(LIBRARY   ) 

DIVERSITY  OF 
CALIFORNIA 

!      SAN  DIEGO 


v 

0s 


MABEL'S   MISTAKE. 


BY 


MRS.  AM  S.  STEPHENS.™* 

AUTHOR  OF  "FASHION  AND  FAMINE,"  "THE  SOLDIER'S  ORPHANS,' 

"DOUBLY FALSE,"  "SILENT STRUGGLES,"  "THE  OLD'HOMESTEAD," 

"THE  REJECTED  WIFE,"  "'THE  HEIRESS,"  "  THE  GOLD  BRICK;" 

"MABY  DEEWENT,"  "THE  WIFE'S  SECRET, "-ETC.,  ETC. 


"  Imagine  something:  purer  far, 

More  free  from  stain  of  clay, 
There  friendship,  love,  or  passion  are, 

Yet  human  still  as  they : 
And  if  thy  lips  for  love  like  this 

No  mortal  word  can  frame, 
Go  ask  of  angels  what  it  is, 

And  call  it  by  that  name." 


PHILADELPHIA: 
T.    B.    PETERSON    &    BROTHERS; 

308    CHESTNUT    STREET. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1868,  by 
T.  B.  PETERSON  &  BROTHERS, 

In  the  Clerk's   Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  and  for  th« 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


ANN   S.    STEPHENS'    WORKS. 

Each,  work  complete  in  one  vol.,  12mo. 

THE  CURSE  OF  GOLD. 

WIVES  AND  WIDOWS. 

THE  REJECTED  WIFE. 
FASHION  AND  FAMINE. 

THE' GOLD  BRICK. 

SILENT  STR  UG  GLES. 
THE  OLD  HOMESTEAD. 

MARY  DERWENT. 

THE  SOLDIER'S  ORPHANS. 
THE  WIFE'S  SECRET. 

MABEL'S  MISTAKE. 

DOUBLY  FALSE. 
THE  HEIRESS. 

Price  of  each,  $1.75  in  Cloth;  or  $1.50  in  Paper  Cover. 


Above  books  are  for  sale  by  all  Booksellers.     Copies  of  any  or 
all  of  the  above  books  will  be  sent  to  any  one,  to  any  place,  post- 
age pre-paid,  on  receipt  of  their  price  by  the  Publishers, 
T.  B.  PETERSON  &  BROTHERS, 

306  CHESTNUT  STREET,  PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 


TO 
MY   DEAR,   YOUNG  FRIEND, 

MISS   EUDORA  J.   HART, 

OF   NEW    YORK, 

THIS      VOLUME 

IS 
MOST  AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED. 

ANN    S.    STEPHENS. 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  OCTOBER  17, 1868. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAOH 

I. — THE  STEP-MOTHER  AND    STEP-SDK 23 

H. — OLD  MB.  HARRINGTON 29 

m. — THE  HILL  SIDE  ADVENTURE 32 

IV. — LIN  A  COMES  OUT  OF  HER  FAINTING   FIT 38 

V. — ON  THE  BANKS  AND  ON  THE  RIVER 45 

VI.— THE  LITTLE   HOUSE  ON  THE  HILL 51 

VH. — THE  UNEXPECTED  PASSENGER 57 

Vm.— OUT  OF  THE   STORM 63 

IX. — THE  BURNING   CEDAR 70 

X. — HOME  IN    SAFETT 75 

XI. — GENERAL    HARRINGTON  IS  SHOCKED 82 

XII. — LOVE    DREAMS 85 

XIII. — THE  BROKEN  CONFESSION 93 

xiv. — RALPH'S  LOVE  DREAM 101 

XV. — THE  STOLEN  JOURNAL 107 

xvi. — JAMES  HARRINGTON'S  RIDE. Ill 

XVH. — THAT  WOMAN 117 

XVm. — OLD    HEADS    AND  YOUNG  HEARTS 125 

xix.— THE  LOVER'S  CONFESSION 131 

XX.— THE  BOUQUET  OF  ROSES 136 

XXI.— BEN  BENSON  GIVES  AN  OPINION 139 

XXII. — A  RENEWAL  OF  CONFIDENCE 147 

XXIII. — THE  LOVE  SONG 152 

XXIV. — A  MEETING  IN  THE  HILLS 155 

XXV.— CONTINUED  PLOTTING 160 

XXVI.— THE  NOTE  WITH  A  GREEN  SEAL 165 

XXVII. — GENERAL  HARRINGTON'S  CONFESSION 168 

(19) 


20  CONTENTS. 

Chapter  Page 

XXVIII.— THE  NOTE  ON  THE  BREAKFAST  TABLE 172 

XXIX. — FATHEB  AND   DAUGHTER 179 

XXX. — BBOTHEB  AND  8I8TEB 186 

XXXI. — THE  SLAVE  AND  HEB  MASTEB . . . 190 

XXXII. — THE    BOAT-HOUSE i 198 

XXXTTI. — GENEBAL     HABBINGTON    BEADS     THE     VELLUM 

BOOK 202 

XXXIV. — AMONG  THE  WATER  LILIES 211 

XXXV. — AFTEB  THE  STOBM 216 

XXXVI. — MISTBESS  AND  MAID 218 

XXXVII. — THE  SLAVE  WE  LEFT    BEHIND  US 223 

XXXVIII.— THE  EATON  FAMILY 226 

XXXIX. — THAT  SPANISH    NOBLEMAN 230 

XL. — THE  MANOEUVBING  MOTHEB 236 

XLI. — THE  CATHEDBAL  AT  SEVILLE 239 

XLII. — A  DUKE  IN  THE  HOUSE 246 

XLIII.— HOPES  AND  PEBSUASIONS 248 

XLIV. — THE  INFANTA  AND  HEB  GUESTS 252 

XLV. — THE  PBOCESSION  OF  THE    MADONNAS 256 

XL VI.— WHEBE  WE  SAW  THE  DUKE 259 

XL vii. — MBS.  EATON'S  TBIBULATION 265 

XL vin. — ZILLAH'S  LETTER 270 

XLIX. — THE  GENEBAJ,  PBOPO8ES  A  TBIP  TO  CADIZ 273 

L. — MISS  EATON  MAKES  MISS  CRAWFORD  A  VISIT...  279 

LI. — CONTINUED    MISUNDERSTANDING 286 

LII — GENEBAL  HARRINGTON  BETUBNS  WITH  ZILLAH.  290 
LIU.— ZILLAH  IS  ANXIOUS  ABOUT  THE  HEALTH  OF  HEB 

MISTBESS 296 

LFV. — BEHIND  THE    GIPSIES'  TENT 301 

LV. — BURDENED  WITH  A  SECBET 304 

LVL— TOO  LATE,  TOO  LATE 313 

LVII.— ZILLAH 318 

LVIII. — GENEBAL  HABBINGTON'S    TEMPTATION 323 

LIX. — A  STOBM  IN  THE    WOODS..                                                ,  328 


CONTENTS.  21 

Chapter  Page 

LX.— THE  DARK-HOUSE 332 

LXL — STRANGE  PLANS 337 

LXII. — THE    TEMPTATION 339 

LXIII. — JAMES    HARRINGTON'S  GBEAT  STRUGGLE 347 

LXTV.—THE  LIFE  DEED 352 

LXV.— WHO  WAS  LINA  FRENCH  ? 355 

LXVI. — THREATS  AND  PERSUASIONS 360 

LXVII. — THE  EVENING  RIDE 367 

rxVIII. — RALPH  FINDS  LINA 372 

LXIX. — AGNES  BECOMES    PATHETIC 876 

LXX.— MABEL    HARRINGTON  AND  HER  SON 382 

LXXI. — THE    MISSING  BOOK 387 

LXXII. — FRAGMENTS  OF  MABEL'S    JOURNAL 391 

LXXIII. — THE  TWO   BROTHERS 393 

LXXIV.  —GENERAL    HARRINGTON'S    SECRET 309 

LXXV. — THE  DESERTED  CHAMBER 404 

LXXVI. — THE  UNEXPECTED    RETURN 407 

LXXVII. — MOTHER  AND  DAUGHTER 411 

LXXVIII. — A  STORMT  PARTING 414 

LXXIX. — UNDER  THE  ICE 419 

LXXX. — WHO  WAS  LINA 423 

LXXXI. — THE    MANIAC...                                         426 


MABEL'S   MISTAKE, 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    STEP-MOTHER   AND    STEP-SON. 

IT  was  autumn,  one  of  those  balmy  Indian  summer  tJays 
which,  if  the  eyes  were  closed,  would  remind  you  of  Anda- 
lusia when  the  orange  trees  put  forth  their  blossoms  with 
the  matured  fruit  still  clinging  to  their  boughs,  burying 
its  golden  ripeness  among  cool,  green  leaves,  and  buds  of 
fragrant  snow.  Still,  save  in  the  delicious  atmosphere  that 
autumnal  sunset  would  not  have  reminded  you  of  any  land 
but  our  own.  For  what  other  climate  ever  gave  the  white 
wings  of  the  frost  the  power  to  scatter  that  rich  combina- 
tion of  red,  green,  gold  and  dusky  purple  upon  a  thousand 
forests  in  a  single  night  ?  What  other  land  ever  saw  the 
sun  go  down  upon  a  world  of  green  foliage,  and  rise  to  find 
the  same  foliage  bathed  in  a  sea  of  brilliant  tints,  till  the 
east  was  paled  by  its  gorgeousness  ? 

Indeed,  there  was  nothing  in  this  calm,  Indian-summer 
twilight  to  remind  you  of  any  other  land,  save  its  stillness 
and  the  balm  of  dying  flowaA  giving  up  their  lives  to  the 
frost.  But  the  links  of  assroiation  are  rapid  and  myste- 
rious, and  the  scenes  that  awaken  a  reminiscence  are  some- 
times entirely  opposite  to  the  memory  awakened. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  there  was  something  in  the  landscape 

(23) 


24  MabeTs   Mistake. 

suddenly  clad  in  its  gorgeous  fall  tints — in  the  river  so 
coldly  transparent  twelve  hours  before,  now  rolling  on 
through  the  glowing  shadows  as  if  the  sands  and  pebbles 
in  its  bed  had  been  turned  to  jewels,  which  reminded  at 
least  one  person  in  that  old  mansion  house,  of  scenes  long 
ago  witnessed  in  the  south  of  Spain. 

The  old  mansion  house  which  we  speak  of,  stood  some 
miles  above  that  gorge  in  the  Harlem  River  which  is  now 
spanned  by  the  High  Bridge.  This  region  of  Manhattan 
Island  is  even  yet  more  than  half  buried  in  its  primeval 
forest  trees.  Hills  as  abrupt,  and  moss  as  greenly  fleecy  as 
if  found  on  the  crags  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  still  exist 
among  the  wild  nooks  and  wilder  peaks  which  strike  the 
eye  more  picturesquely  from  their  vicinity  to  the  great 
metropolis. 

At  the  particular  spot  I  wish  to  describe,  the  hills  fall 
back  from  the -Hudson,  north  and  south,  far  enough  to  leave 
a  charming  little  valley  of  some  two  or  three  hundred  acres 
cradled  in  their  wildness  and  opening  greenly  to  the  river, 
which  is  sure  to  catch  a  sheaf  of  sunbeams  in  its  bosom 
when  the  day  fires  its  last  golden  salute  from  behind  the 
Palisades.  Sheltered  by  hills,  some  broken  into  cliffs,  some 
rolling  smoothly  back,  clothed  in  variously  tinted  under- 
growth and  fine  old  trees,  the  valley  itself  received  a  double 
charm  from  the  contrast  of  cultivation.  It  was  entirely 
cleared  of  trees  and  undergrowth,  save  where  a  clump  of 
cool  hemlocks,  a  grove  of  sugar  maples,  or  a  drooping  elm 
gave  it  those  features  we  so  much  admire  in  the  country 
homes  of  old  England. 

In  the  centre  of  the  valleALwas  a  swell  of  land  sloping 
down  to  the  river  in  full,  gra^  waves,  which  ended  at  the 
brink  in  a  tiny  cove  overhung  by  a  clump  of  golden  wil- 
lows. 

Crowning  the  swell  of  this  elevation  stood  the  old  man- 
sion commanding  a  fine  view  of  the  river,  with  a  glimpse 


Mabel's  Mistake.  25 

of  the  opposite  shore,  where  the  Weehawken  hills  begin  to 
consolidate  into  the  Palisades.  A  score  of  picturesque  and 
pleasant  little  nooks  were  visible  from  the  numerous  win- 
dows, for  it  was  an  irregular  old  place,  varying  as  much  as 
an  American  house  can  vary  in  its  style  of  architecture. 
The  original  idea  had  undoubtedly  sprung  from  our  Knick- 
erbocker ancestors,  for  the  gables  were  not  only  pointed, 
but  notched  down  the  steep  edges  after  a  semi-battlemented 
fashion,  while  stacks  of  quaint  chimneys  and  heavy  oaken 
doors  bespoke  a  foundation  far  antecedent  to  the  revolu- 
tion. 

But  in  addition  to  these  proofs  of  antiquity,  were  balco- 
nies of  carved  stone,  curving  over  modern  bay  windows, 
which  broke  up  the  stiff  uniformity  of  the  original  design  ; 
and  along  one  tall  gable  that  fronted  on  the  river,  French 
windows,  glittering  with  plate  glass,  opened  to  a  verandah 
of  stone-work,  surrounded  by  a  low  railing  also  of  stone ; 
and  if  these  windows  were  not  one  blaze  of  gold  at  sunset, 
you  might  be  certain  that  a  storm  was  lowering  over  the 
Palisades,  and  that  the  next  day  would  be  a  cloudy  one. 

Another  gable  facing  the  south  was  lighted  by  a  broad 
arched  window  crowded  full  of  diamond-shaped  glass,  tinted 
through  and  through  by  the  bloom  and  glow  of  a  conserva- 
tory within.  In  short  the  mansion  was  a  picturesque  incon- 
gruity utterly  indescribable,  and  yet  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting old  houses  in  the  world. 

Whatever  might  be  said  of  its  architecture,  it  certainly 
had  a  most  aristocratic  appearance,  and  bore  proofs  in  every 
line  and  curve  of  its  stone  traceries,  both  of  fine  taste  and 
great  wealth,  inherited  from  generation  to  generation. 
Time  itself  would  have  failed  to  sweep  these  traces  of 
family  pride  from  the  old  house,  for  each  century  had 
carved  it  deeper  and  deeper  into  the  massive  stone,  and  it 
was  as  much  a  portion  of  the  scenery,  as  the  stately  old 
forest  trees  that  sheltered  it. 


26  Makers  Mistake. 

But  we  have  alluded  to  one  who  sat  in  a  room  of  this  old 
mansion,  looking  thoughtfully  out  upon  the  change  that  a 
single  night  had  left  upon  the  landscape.  Her  seat,  a 
crimson  easy-chair,  stood  near  one  of  the  broad  hay  win- 
dows we  have  mentioned.  The  sashes  were  folded  back, 
and  she  looked  dreamily  out  upon  the  river  and  the  opposite 
shore.  The  whole  view  was  bathed  in  a  subdued  glow  of 
crimson  and  golden  purple  ;  for  the  sun  was  sinking  behind 
the  Palisades,  and  shot  sheaf  after  sheaf  of  flashing  arrows 
across  the  river,  that  melted  into  a  soft  glowing  haze  before 
they  reached  the  apartment  which  she  occupied. 

The  room  behind  was  full  of  shadows,  and  nothing  but 
the  light  of  a  hickory- wood  fire  revealed  the  objects  it  con- 
tained. She  was  looking  forth  upon  the  sunset,  and  yet 
thinking  of  other  countries  and  scenes  long  gone  by.  Her 
mind  had  seized  upon  the  salient  points  of  a  history  full  of 
experience,  and  she  was  swept  away  into  the  past. 

No,  she  was  not  young,  nor  beautiful  even.  The  flush 
of  youth  was  gone  for  ever.  Her  features  were  thoughtful, 
almost  severe,  her  form  stately  and  mature. 

No,  she  was  not  beautiful.  At  her  age  that  were  impos- 
sible, and  yet  she  was  a  woman  to  fix  the  attention  at  a 
glance,  and  keep  herself  in  the  memory  for  ever — a  grand, 
noble  woman,  with  honor  and  strength,  and  beautiful 
depths  of  character,  apparent  even  in  her  thoughtful 
repose. 

But  this  woman  shakes  off  the  reverie  that  has  held  her 
so  long  in  thrall,  and  looks  up  at  the  sound  of  a  voice 
within  the  room,  blushing  guiltily  like  a  young  girl  aroused 
from  her  first  love  thoughts.  She  casts  aside  the  remem- 
brance of  black  fruited  olive  groves  and  orange  trees 
sheeted  with  snowy  fragrance,  and  knows  of  a  truth  that 
she  is  at  home  surrounded  by  the  gorgeous  woods  of 
America,  in  the  clear  chill  air  inhaled  with  the  first  breath 
of  her  life. 


Mabel's  Mistake.  27 

"  Did  you  speak,  James  ?  " 

She  turned  quietly  and  looked  within  the  room.  Near 
her,  sitting  with  his  elbows  on  a  small  table  and  his  broad 
forehead  buried  in. the  palms  of  his  hands,  sat  a  man  of  an 
age  and  presence  that  might  have  befitted  the  husband  of 
a  woman,  at  once  so  gentle  and  so  proud  as  the  one  who 
spoke  to  him ;  for  even  in  the  light  produced  by  the  gleams 
of  a  dull  fire  and  the  dusky  sunset,  as  they  floated  together 
around  his  easy-chair,  you  could  see  that  he  was  a  man  of 
thought  and  power. 

The  man  looked  up  and,  dropping  his  hands  to  the  table 
with  a  sort  of  weariness,  answered,  as  if  to  some  person 
away  off — 

"  No,  I  did  not  speak — I  never  did  speak  !  n 

It  was  a  strange  answer,  and  the  lady's  face  grew  anxious 
as  she  looked  upon  him.  Certainly^he  had  uttered  some 
sound,  or  she  would  not  have  asked  the  question.  She 
arose  and  moving  across  the  room,  leaned  her  elbow  upon 
his  chair,  looking  thoughtfully  down  in  his  face. 

He  started,  as  if  but  that  moment  conscious  of  her  pre- 
sence, and  arose  probably  to  avoid  the  grave  questioning  of 
her  look. 

"  Of  what  were  you  thinking,  James  ?  "  she  said  almost 
abruptly,  for  a  superstitious  thought  forced  the  question  to 
her  lips  almost  against  her  will. 

"I  was  thinking,"  said  the  man,  resting  his  head  against 
the  oak  carvings  of  his  chair,  "  I  was  thinking  of  a  time 
when  we  were  all  in  the  south  of  Spain." 

"  Of  your  mother's  death  ?  "  inquired  the  lady  in  a  low 
voice.  "  It  was  a  mournful  event  to  remember.  What  is 
there  in  this  soft  twilight  to  remind  us  both  of  the  same 
thing,  for  I  was  thinking  of  that  time  also  ! " 

"  Of  my  mother's  death  ? "  inquired  the  gentleman, 
lifting  his  eyes  to  her  face  suddenly,  almost  sternly.  "  I 
was  not  thinking  of  that,  but  of  my  father's  marriage." 


28  Mabets   Mistake. 

The  lady  did  not  speak,  but  her  face  grew  pale,  and  over 
it  swept  a  smile  so  vivid  with  surprise,  so  eloquent  of 
mournfulness,  that  she  seemed  transfigured.  Her  hand 
dropped  away  from  the  chair,  and  walking  back  to  the  win- 
dow she  sat  down,  uttering  a  faint  sigh,  as  if  some  slum- 
bering pain  had  been  sharpened  into  anguish  by  the  few 
words  that  had  been  spoken.  Twenty  years  had  she  lived 
in  the  house  with  James  Harrington,  and  never  before  had 
the  subject  of  her  marriage  with  his  father  been  mentioned 
between  them,  save  as  it  arose  in  the  discussion  of  house- 
hold events. 

Her  marriage  with  his  father,  that  was  the  subject  of  his 
gloomy  thoughts.  Had  she  then  failed  to  render  him  con- 
tent in  his  home  ?  Had  she  in  anything  fallen  short  of 
those  gentle  duties  he  had  received  so  gratefully  from  the 
mother  that  was  gone  ?  Why  was  it  that  thoughts  of 
Spain  and  of  events  that  had  transpired  there,  should  have 
seized  upon  them  both  at  the  same  time  ? 

She  arose  again,  pale  and  with  a  tremor  of  the  limbs. 
The  balmy  air  grew  sickening  to  her — his  presence  an 
oppression.  For  the  first  time  she  began  to  doubt  if  she 
were  not  an  object  of  dislike  to  her  husband's  guest.  He 
saw  her  pass  from  the  room  without  turning  a  glance  that 
way,  and  followed  her  with  a  look  of  self-reproach.  He 
felt  pained  and  humiliated.  After  a  silence  of  so  many 
years,  why  had  he  dared  to  utter  words  to  that  woman — 
his  best  friend — which  could  never  be  explained  ?  Had 
all  manhood  forsaken  him  ?  Had  he  sunk  to  be  a  common- 
place carper  in  the  household  which  she  had  invested  with 
so  much  beautiful  happiness  ?  Stung  with  these  thoughts 
he  arose  and  sought  the  open  air  also. 


MabeFs   Mistake.  29 

CHAPTER  II. 

OLD   MB.    HARRINGTON. 

AN  old  man  sat  in  a  room  above  the  one  just  deserted  by 
its  inmates.  He  was  watching  the  sunset  also,  with  unusal 
interest,  not  because  it  brought  back  loving  or  sad  mem- 
ories, but  with  an  admiration  of  the  sense  alone.  With 
tastes  cultivated  to  their  extremest  capacity,  and  a  philoso- 
phy of  happiness  essentially  material,  this  old  man  per- 
mitted no  hour  to  pass  by  without  gleaning  some  sensual 
enjoyment  from  it,  that  a  less  egotistical  person  might 
never  have  discovered.  An  epicure  in  all  things,  he  had 
attained  to  a  sort  of  self-worship,  which  would  have  been 
sublime  if  applied  to  the  First  Cause  of  all  that  is  beauti- 
ful. His  splendid  person  was  held  in  reverence,  not 
because  it  was  made  in  the  image  of  his  God,  but  for  the 
powers  of  enjoyment  it  possessed — for  the  symmetry  it  dis- 
played, and  tke  defiance  which  it  had  so  long  given  to  the 
inroads  of  time. 

As  a  whole  and  in  detail,  this  old  man  was  a  self-wor- 
shipper. Like  all  idolaters  he  was  blind  to  the  defects  of 
his  earthly  god,  and  if  a  gleam  of  unpleasant  self  knowl- 
edge would  occasionally  force  itself  upon  his  notice,  the  con- 
viction only  rendered  him  more  urgent  to  extort  homage 
from  others. 

The  room  in  which  this  old  man  sat,  was  a  library  fitted 
up  expressly  for  himself.  It  was  one  of  his  peculiarities 
that  his  sources  of  enjoyment  must  be  exclusive,  in  order 
to  be  valuable.  He  would  not  willingly  have  shared  a 
single  tint  of  that  beautiful  sunset  with  another,  unless  sat- 
isfied that  the  admiration  thus  excited  would  give  zest  to 
his  own  pleasurable  sensations. 

Thus,  with  the  selfishness  of  an  epicure  and  the  tastes 


30  MabeVs  Mistake. 

of  a  savant,  he  surrounded  himself  with  the  most  luxurious 
elegance.  The  book-cases  of  carved  ebony  that  run  along 
two  sides  of  the  apartment,  were  filled  with  rare  books, 
accumulated  during  his  travels,  some  of  them  worth  their 
weight  in  gold.  Doors  of  plate  glass  protected  their 
antique  and  often  gorgeous  bindings,  and  medallions  of 
rare  bronzes  were  inlaid  in  the  rich  carvings  of  the  cor- 
nices. 

Over  the  mantle-piece  of  Egyptian  marble,  carved  to  a 
miracle  of  art,  hung  an  original  by  Guido,  one  of  those 
ethereal  pictures  in  which  the  figures  seem  to  float  through 
the  glowing  atmosphere,  borne  onward  only  by  a  gushing 
sense  of  their  own  happiness. 

The  French  windows  opposite  were  filled,  like  the  book- 
cases, with  plate-glass  pure  and  limpid  as  water,  and  two 
bronze  Bacchantes,  thrown  into  attitudes  of  riotous  enjoy- 
ment, held  back  voluminous  folds  of  crimson  brocade  that 
enriched  the  light  which  fell  through  them.  A  variety  of 
chairs  stood  about,  carved  like  the  book-cases,  cushioned 
with  crimson  leather  and  embossed  with  gold.  The  ebony 
desk  upon  which  the  old  man's  elbow  rested,  as  he  looked 
forth  upon  the  river,  was  scattered  over  with  books  and  sur- 
mounted by  a  writing  apparatus  of  malachite,  whose  mate 
could  hardly  have  been  found  out  of  the  imperial  salons  of 
Russia. 

Everything  was  in  keeping,  the  luxurious  room  and  the 
old  man  whose  presence  completed  it.  If  the  two  persons 
we  have  just  described  seemed  imposing  in  their  moral 
grandeur,  while  they  sat  thoughtfully  watching  the  sunset, 
this  man  with  his  keen,  black  eyes,  his  beard  flowing  down- 
ward in  white  waves  from  the  chin  and  upper  lip,  which 
was  curved  exactly  in  the  form  of  a  bow,  took  from  the 
material  alone  an  interest  almost  as  impressive. 

The  old  man  saw  his  wife  pass  down  in  front  of  the 
house  and  descend  toward  the  river.  The  black  dress  and 


Mabets   Mistake.  31 

scarlet  shawl  which  she  wore,  rendered  her  a  picturesqiTe 
object  in  the  landscape,  and  as  such  the  old  man  was  admir- 
ing her.  Directly  after,  his  son  followed,  and  another 
stately  figure  was  added  to  the  view ;  but  his  walk  verged 
toward  the  hills,  and  he  was  soon  lost  among  the  trees. 

The  old  man  was  vexed  at  this  derangement  in  his 
picture ;  but  directly  there  came  in  sight  a  little  boat, 
ploughing  through  the  golden  ripples  cast  downward  by  the 
sun,  and  half  veiled  in  the  glowing  mists  of  the  river.  He 
watched  the  boat  while  it  came  dancing  toward  the  shore, 
and  smiled  when  his  wife  paused  a  moment  on  the  bank,  as 
if  awaiting  its  approach. 

"  She  is  right.  A  figure  upon  the  shore  completes  the 
whole  thing.  One  seldom  sees  a  picture  so  perfect ! 
Claude  Lorraine  ! — why,  his  sunsets  are  leaden  compared  to 
this !  Oh,  she  turns  off  and  spoils  the  effect  by  throwing 
the  willows  between  us  !  Why  will  women  be  so  restless  ! 
Now  a  female  caprice — nothing  more — has  destroyed  the 
most  lovely  effect  I  ever  saw  ;  just  as  I  was  drinking  it  in, 
too.  But  the  boat  is  pretty — yes,  yes,  that  enlivens  the 
foreground — bravo  !  Capital,  Ben,  capital ! — that  stoop  is 
just  the  thing ;  and  the  youngsters,  how  beautifully  they 
group  themselves  !  Hallo  !  upon  my  honor,  if  that  young 
scamp  is  not  making  love  to  Lina !  1  don't  pretend  to 
know  what  the  attitude  of  love-making  is !  " 

The  old  man  fell  back  in  his  chair,  and  drew  a  hand  over 
his  eyes  with  a  restless  motion,  muttering  uneasily, 

"Kalph  and  Lina?  upon  my  word,  I  have  been  blind  as 
a  bat.  How  far  has  the  thing  gone  ?  Has  Mabel  encour? 
aged  it  ?  Does  she  know  ?  What  hand  can  James  have 
had  in  bringing  this  state  of  things  about?  These  two, 
children — why,  the  thing  is  preposterous  !  " 

The  old  man  left  his  easy-chair,  as  these  unpleasant  con- 
jectures forced  themselves  upon  him,  and,  as  if  sickened 
by  the  landscape  he  Ijad  jus^;  been  admiring,  shut  it  out  by 
2 


32  Mabefs   Mistake. 

a  jerk  of  the  hand,  which  brought  the  crimson  drapery 
flowing  in  loose  folds  from  its  gilded  rods,  and  gave  the 
whole  room  a  tent-like  seclusion.  In  the  rich  twilight  thus 
produced,  the  old  man  walked  to  and  fro,  angry  and 
thoughtful.  At  last  he  took  his  hat  and  left  the  house. 


CHAPTER  III: 

THE   HILL    SIDE   ADVENTURE. 

RALPH  HARRINGTON"  and  Lina  French  had  been  out 
upon  the  river,  since  the  shadow  began  to  fall  eastward 
upon  its  waters.  The  day  had  been  so  calm,  and  every- 
thing their  eyes  fell  upon  was  so  luxuriantly  lovely,  that 
they  could  not  force  themselves  to  come  in  doors,  till  the 
twilight  overtook  them. 

Old  Ben — or  rather  our  Ben,  for  he  was  not  so  very  old, 
after  all — who  considered  himself  master  of  the  little  craft 
which  he  was  mooring  in  the  cove,  had  aided  and  abetted 
this  truant  disposition  in  the  young  people,  after  a  fashion 
that  Mr.  Harrington  might  not  have  approved;  and  all 
that  day  there  was  a  queer  sort  of  smile  upon  his  features, 
that  meant  more  than  a  host  of  words  would  have  conveyed 
in  another  person.  Never,  in  his  whole  life,  had  Ben  been 
so  obliging  in  his  management  of  the  boat.  If  Lina  took 
a  fancy  to  a  branch  of  golden  rod,  or  a  cluster  of  fringed 
gentian  upon  the  shore,  Ben  would  put  in  at  the  nearest 
convenient  point,  and  sit  half  an  hour  together  in  the  boat, 
with  his  arms  folded  over  his  oars,  and  his  head  bowed,  as 
if  fast  asleep.  Yet  Ben  Benson,  according  to  my  best 
knowledge  and  belief,  was  never  more  thoroughly  awake 
than  on  that  particular  day. 

They  were  gliding  dreamily  along  at  the  foot  of  the 


Mabets   Mistake.  33 

Weehawken  hills,  with  their  boat  half  full  of  fall  flowers 
and  branches,  when  Lina  saw  a  tree  so  brilliantly  red,  that 
she  insisted  on  climbing  to  the  rock  where  it  was  rooted,  in 
search  of  the  leaves  that  were  dropped  sleepily  from  its 
boughs. 

Ben  shot  into  a  little  inlet  formed  by  two  jutting  rocks, 
and  Ralph  sprang  ashore,  holding  out  his  hand  for  Lina, 
who  scarcely  touched  it  as  she  took  her  place  by  his  side. 

"  Now  for  a  scramble ! "  exclaimed  the  youth,  grasping 
Lina's  hand  tightly  in  his  own ;  and  away,  like  a  pair  of 
wild  birds,  the  two  young  creatures  darted  up  the  hill. 

The  rock,  behind  which  the  tree  stood,  was  scattered  over 
with  leaves  of  a  deep  crimson,  brightening  to  scarlet  on  the 
edges,  and  veined  with  a  green  so  deep,  that  it  seemed  like 
black.  Among  the  endless  variety  of  leaves  they  had  dis- 
covered, these  were  the  most  singular,  and  Lina  gathered 
them  up  in  handfuls  only  to  scatter  them  abroad  again 
when  a  more  tempting  waif  caught  her  eye. 

"  Wait  a  moment — wait,  Ralph ;  oh,  here  is  a  whole  drift 
of  them ;  see  how  bright  they  look,  quivering  over  the 
fleeces  of  moss  that  slope  down  the  rocks.  If  I  could  but 
take  the  whole  home,  just  as  it  is,  for  mamma  ! " 

Lina  was  stooping  eagerly  as  she  spoke.  A  quick,  rat- 
tling sound  in  the  leaves  struck  her,  and  she  called  out, 
laughing — 

"  If  it  were  not  so  late  in  the  fall,  Ralph,  I  should  think 
there  was  a  locust  singing  in  the  leaves." 

That  moment  Ben,  who  had  tied  his  boat,  came  scram- 
bling up  the  hill.  He  took  his  place  by  Ralph  upon  a  shelf 
of  the  rock,  and  began  to  sniff  the  air  with  his  flat,  pug 
nose,  like  a  watch-dog  scenting  an  enemy.  The  noise 
which  interested  Lina  was  over  now,  and  he  only  heard  her 
observation  about  the  locust. 

"  Ain't  there  a  strong  smell  of  honey  about  here,  Mister 


34  MabeFs   Mistake. 

Ralph?"  he  said,  looking  anxiously  around;  "something 
between  the  scent  of  an  old  bee-hive  and  a  wasp's  nest  ?  " 

"  There  is  a  singular  scent  I  fancy,  Ben,"  answered  the 
young  man,  following  Lina  with  his  eyes.  "  Not  disagreea- 
ble, though  ! " 

"  Do  you  begin  to  guess  what  it  means  ?  "  inquired  Ben, 
anxiously. 

"  Not  at  all,"  answered  Ralph,  waving  his  hand  and 
smiling  upon  Lina,  who  held  up  a  branch  of  richly  shaded 
leaves  she  had  just  taken  from  a  maple  bough,  laughing 
gaily  as  the  main  branch  swept  rustling  back  to  its  place. 
"  Not  at  all,  Ben ;  it  may  be  the  frost-bitten  fern-leaves — 
they  sometimes  give  out  a  delicious  odor.  Everything  in 
the  woods  takes  a  pleasant  scent  at  this  season  of  the  year, 
I  believe." 

Lina,  who  was  restless  as  a  bird,  changed  her  position 
again,  and  the  movement  was  followed  by  another  quick, 
hissing  sound  from  a  neighboring  rock. 

"  So  that  is  Miss  Lina's  idea  of  a  locust,  is  it,"  muttered 
Ben,  looking  sharply  around.  "If  that's  a  locust,  Mister 
Ralph,  the  animal  has  got  a  tremenjus  cold,  for  he's  hoarse 
— yes,  hoarse  as  a  rattlesnake — do  you  hear,  Mister  Ralph  ? 
Hoarse  as  a  rattlesnake  J" 

Ben  was  intensely  excited,  and  looked  eagerly  around, 
searching  for  danger. 

"  Look ! "  he  whispered,  after  a  moment ;  "  the  sunshine 
on  the  red  leaves  dazzles  the  eyesight — but  look  stiddy  on 
the  rock  there,  where  the  green  moss  is  fluttered  over  with 
them  red  leaves — don't  you  see  the  moss  kinder  a  stir- 
rin'  ?  " 

Ralph  looked,  and  there,  about  six  feet  from  Lina,  he  saw 
what  seemed  at  first  a  mass  of  gorgeous  foliage,  quivering 
upon  the  green  moss,  for  a  glow  of  warm  sunshine  fell 
athwart  it  and  dazzled  his  eyes  for  the  moment.  But 
anxietj  cleared  his  vision,  and  he  saw  that  th»  glowing 


MabeFs   Mistake.  35 

mass  was  a  serpent  drawn  from  a  cleft  of  the  rock  by  the 
warm  sun.  Disturbed  by  Lina's  approach,  he  was  that  in- 
stant coiling  itself  up  for  a  spring.  His  head  was  erect, 
his  tongue  quivered  like  a  thread  of  flame,  and  two  horrible 
fangs,  crooked  and  venomous,  shot  out  on  each  side  his  open 
jaws.  In  the  centre  of  the  coil,  and  just  behind  the  head 
which  vibrated  to  and  fro  with  horrible  eagerness,  the  rattles 
kept  in  languid  play,  as  if  tired  of  warning  her. 

Ralph,  pale  as  death  and  trembling  all  over,  stooped 
down  and  seized  a  fragment  of  rock ;  but  Lina  was  too  near, 
he  dared  not  hurl  it.  The  young  girl  enticed  by  the  float- 
ing leaves  which  the  sun  struck  so  brightly  around  the  ser- 
pent, had  her  foot  poised  to  spring  forward. 

"  Lina ! "  eried  Ralph,  in  a  low  voice,  "  Lina !  " 

"In  one  moment,"  cried  the  girl,  laughing  wilfully; 
"wait  till  I  get  those  leaves  drifting  across  the  rock  there." 

The  gipsy  hat  had  fallen  on  one  side  ;  her  hands  were 
full  of  red  leaves,  and  she  was  smiling  saucily.  This 
unconsciousness  of  danger  was  horrible.  The  young  man 
shrunk  and  quivered  through  all  his  frame. 

"  Lina,  step  aside — to  the  right — dear  Lina,  I  entreat,  I 
insist ! " 

His  voice  was  deep  and  husky,  scarcely  more  than  a 
whisper,  and  yet  full  of  command. 

Lina  looked  back,  and  her  smiling  lips  grew  white  with 
astonishment.  Ralph  stood  above  her  pale  as  marble  ;  his 
hand  grasping  the  rock  was  uplifted,  his  fierce,  distended 
eyes  looked  beyond  her.  Wild  with  nameless  dread  the 
young  girl  stepped  backward,  following  his  glance  with  her 
eyes.  Her  breath  was  checked — she  could  not  scream. 
The  glittering  eyes  of  the  rattlesnake,  though  turned  upon 
another,  held  her  motionless.  A  prickly  sensation  pierced 
her  lips  through  and  through,  as  the  snake  loosened  his 
coils  and  changed  his  position  so  abruptly,  that  his  back 
glittered  in  the  sunshine,  like  a  mass  of  jewels  rapidly 


36  MabeVs   Mistake. 

disturbed,  making  her  blind  and  dizzy  with  the  poisonous 
glow.  Still  she  moved  backward  like  a  statue  recoiling 
from  its  base. 

"Now,"  whispered  Ben,  "now  give  it  to  him." 

A  crash — a  spring — and  like  a  fiery  lance  the  rattlesnake 
shot  by  her,  striking  her  garments  as  he  went,  and,  falling 
short  of  his  enemy,  coiled  himself  for  a  new  spring. 

Kalph's  hand  was  uplifted  as  the  fragment  of  rock  had 
left  it;  and  there,  within  a  few  feet,  lay  the  rattlesnake 
making  ready  for  a  second  spring,  and  quivering  through 
all  its  folds. 

She  uttered  a  wild  cry,  stooped  quick  as  lightning,  seized 
a  fragment  of  rock, — dashed  it  with  both  hands  upon  the 
rattlesnake,  and,  rushing  by,  threw  herself  before  Ralph. 
Her  eyes  turned  with  horror  upon  the  work  she  had  done. 

"  Oh,  have  mercy  !  have  mercy  !  he  is  alive  yet ! "  she 
shrieked,  as  writhing  and  convulsed,  the  rattlesnake  drew 
his  glittering  folds  out  from  beneath  the  stone,  and  wound 
himself  up,  coil  after  coil,  more  venomous  than  ever. 

"  Step  behind  me — behind  me,  Lina,"  cried  the  young 
man  attempting  to  force  her  away. 

But  she  threw  her  arms  around  him,  and  with  her  eyes 
turned  back  upon  the  glittering  horror,  strove  with  all  her 
frail  strength  to  push  him  backward  out  of  danger. 

The  brave  generosity  of  this  attempt  might  have 
destroyed  them  both  ;  but,  just  as  the  rattlesnake  was  pre- 
pared to  lance  out  again,  Ben,  who  had  torn  a  branch  from 
an  ash  tree  overhead,  rushed  fearlessly  down  and  struck  at 
him  with  the  host  of  light  twigs  that  were  yet  covered  with 
delicate  maize-colored  leaves. 

This  act  increased  Lina's  terror,  for  the  blows  which  Ben 
gave  were  so  light  that  a  baby  would  have  laughed  at 
them. 

"Don't  be  skeer'd,  nor  nothing,"  shouted  Ben,  gently 
belaboring  his  enemy  with  the  ash  bough,  "I've  got  the 


Mabets   Mistake.  37 

pizen  sarpent  under,  just  look  this  way  and  you'll  find  him 
tame  as  a  rabbit.  Lord!  how  the  critter  does  hate  the 
smell  of  ash  leaves  !  Now  do  look,  Miss  Lina  !  " 

Lina  clung  trembling  to  Ralph,  but  turned  her  eyes  with 
breathless  dread  toward  the  rattlesnake. 

"Come  close  by — -just  get  a  look  at  him — the  stiffening 
is  out  of  his  back-bone  now,  I  tell  you ! "  cried  Ben, 
triumphantly.  "  See  him  a  trying  to  poke  his  head  under 
the  moss  just  at  the  sight  of  a  yaller  ash  leaf — ain't  he  a 
coward,  now  ain't  he  ?  " 

"  What  is  it — what  does  it  mean  ?  "  inquired  Ealph,  re- 
assured now  that  Lina  was  out  of  danger — "  did  the  stone 
wound  him  ?  " 

"  The  stone  !  "  repeated  Ben  scornfully, — "  a  round  stone 
covered  over  with  moss  like  a  pin  cushion !  Why,  if  this 
ere  rattlesnake  could  laugh  as  well  as  bite,  he'd  have  a  good 
haw-haw  over  Miss  Lina's  way  of  fighting  snakes.  It 
takes  something  to  kill  them,  I  tell  you.  But  I've  got  him 
— he  knows  me.  Look  at  him  now ! " 

Ralph  moved  a  step  forward  and  looked  down  upon  the 
rattlesnake,  towards  which  Ben  was  pointing  with  his  ash 
branch,  as  unconcerned  as  if  it  had  been  an  earth-worm. 

The  rattlesnake  had  loosened  all  his  folds,  and  lay  prone 
upon  his  back  striving  to  burrow  his  head  beneath  the 
leaves  and  moss,  evidently  without  power  to  escape  or 
show  fight. 

"  Wonderful,  isn't  it !  "  said  Ben,  eyeing  the  snake  with 
grim  complacency ;  "  now  I  should  just  like  to  know  what 
there  is  in  the  natur  of  this  ere  ash  limb  that  wilts  his 
pizen  down  so  ?  Why,  he's  harmless  as  a  catterpillar. 
Come  down  and  see  for  yourself,  Mister  Ealph." 

"  No,  no ! "  pleaded  Lina,  faint  and  trembling,  for  the 
reaction  of  the  recent  terror  was  upon  her,  and  she  grew 
siok  now  that  the  danger  was  over.  "  I  am  ill — blind — 
Ealph— Ralph!" 


38  MabePs  Mistake. 

She  spoke  his  name  in  faint  murmurs,  her  head  fell  for- 
ward and  her  eyes  closed.  Ralph  thought  she  was  dying. 
He  remembered  that  the  rattlesnake  had  touched  her  in  his 
first  spring,  and  took  the  faintness  as  the  working  of  his 
venom  in  her  veins.  He  called  out  in  the  agony  of  this 
thought, — 

"  Ben !  Ben  !  she  is  dying — she  is  dead — he  struck 
her  ! " 

Ben  gave  the  rattlesnake  a  vigorous  lash,  which  turned 
him  on  his  back  again,  and  sprang  up  the  rocks. 

"  Have  you  killed  him  ?  Is  he  dead  ?  Oh,  Ben,  he  has 
struck  her  on  her  arm  or  hand,  perhaps  !  Look,  look — see 
if  you  can  find  the  wound  ! " 

Ben  gave  a  hasty  glance  at  the  white  face  lying  upon 
Ralph's  shoulder,  uttered  a  smothered  humph,  and  with  this 
emphatic  expression  turned  to  watch  the  common  enemy. 
The  snake  had  turned  slowly  over  upon  the  moss  and  was 
slinking  away  through  a  crevice  in  the  rocks.  Ben  uttered 
a  mellow  chuckling  laugh  as  his  rattles  disappeared. 

"  Did  you  see  him,  the  sneak  ?  Did  you  see  him  steal 
off  ?  "  he  said,  looking  at  Ralph. 


CHAPTER  TV. 

LINA    COMES    OUT    OF   HEE   FAINTING   FIT. 

RALPH  lifted  his  white  face  to  old  Ben  and  broke  forth 
fiercely : 

"  You  should  have  crushed  him — ground  him  to  powder. 
He  has  poisoned  all  the  sweet  life  in  her  veins.  She  is 
dying,  Ben,  she  is  dying  !  " 

Ben  threw  down  the  ash  branch  and  plunged  one  hand 
into  a  pocket  in  search  of  his  tobacco  box.  With  great 


Mabets   Mistake.  39 

deliberation  he  rolled  up  a  quantity  of  the  weed  and 
deposited  it  under  one  cheek,  before  he  attempted  to 
answer  either  the  pleading  looks  or  passionate  language  of 
the  youth. 

"Mister  Ealph,  it's  plain  as  a  marlin-spike,  you  ain't 
used  to  snakes  and  wimmen.  In  that  partiklar  your  edu- 
cation's been  shamefully  neglected.  Never  kill  a  rattle- 
snake arter  he's  shut  in  his  fangs  and  turns  on  his  back 
for  mercy — its  sneakin'  business.  Never  think  a  woman 
is  dead  till  the  sexton  sends  in  his  bill.  Snakes  and 
feminine  wimmen  is  hard  to  kill.  Now  any  landshark, 
as  has  his  eyes  out  of  his  heart,  could  see  that  Miss  Lina's 
only  took  a  faintin'  turn,  that  comes  after  a  skeer  like  hers, 
axactly  as  sleep  stills  a  tired  baby.  Just  give  her  here 
now,  I'll  take  her  down  the  river,  throw  a  cap  full  of  water 
in  her  face,  and  she'll  be  bright  as  a  new  dollar  long  before 
we  get  across." 

The  look  of  relief  that  came  to  the  face  of  Ealph  Har- 
rington was  like  a  flash  of  sunshine.  A  grateful  smile 
lighted  his  eyes,  but  instead  of  resigning  Lina  to  the  stout 
arms  held  out  by  Ben  Benson,  he  gathered  her  close  to  his 
bosom,  saying  in  a  proud  voice, 

"  Why,  Ben,  I  want  no  help  to  carry  Lina." 

Then  he  bore  her  down  the  hill,  looking  now  and  then 
upon  her  face  so  tenderly,  that  Ben,  who  was  eyeing  him 
all  the  way  with  sidelong  glances,  made  a  hideous  face  to 
himself,  as  if  to  capitulate  with  his  dignity  for  wanting  to 
smile  at  anything  so  childish. 

"  Sit  down  there,"  said  Ben,  pointing  to  the  stern  of  his 
boat,  "  sit  down  there,  Mister  Ealph,  and  kinder  ease  her 
down  to  the  seat ;  your  face  is  hot  as  fire  a  carrying  her. 
Now  I'll  fill  my  hat  with  water  and  give  her  a  souse  that'll 
bring  the  red  to  her  mouth  in  a  jiffy." 

"  No,  no,"  said  Ealph,  arresting  Ben  as  he  stooped  to 
fill  his  little  glazed  hat,  "  don't  throw  it,  hold  your  cap 


40  MabeVs  Mistake. 

here,  Ben,  and  I'll  sprinkle  her  face.  How  pale  it  is ! 
How  like  a  dear  lifeless  angel  she  looks  ?  " 

Ben  stooped  to  the  water,  and  Ralph  trembling  and 
flushed,  bent  over  the  pale  beautiful  face  on  his  bosom, 
closer,  closer,  till  his  lips  drew  the  blood  back  to  hers,  and 
her  eyelids  began  to  quiver  like  shadows  on  a  white  rose. 

Ben  had  slowly  risen  from  the  water  with  the  glazed  hat 
dripping  between  his  two  great  hands  ;  but  when  he  saw 
Ralph's  position,  the  good  fellow  ducked  downward  again, 
and  made  a  terrible  splashing  in  the  river,  as  he  dipped  the 
brimming  hat  a  second  time,  while  that  grotesque  suppres- 
sion of  a  smile  convulsed  his  hard  features. 

It  was  wonderful  how  long  it  took  Ben  to  fill  his  hat  this 
time.  One  would  have  thought  him  fishing  for  pearls  in 
the  depths  of  the  river,  he  was  so  fastidious  in  finding  the 
exact  current  best  calculated  to  restore  a  young  lady  from 
faintness.  When  he  did  arise,  everything  about  the  young 
people  was,  to  use  his  nautical  expression,  ship-shape  and 
above-board.  The  color  was  stealing  back  to  Lina's  face, 
like  blushes  from  the  first  flowering  of  apple  blossoms,  and 
a  brightness  stole  from  beneath  her  half-closed  eyelids,  that 
had  something  softer  and  deeper  than  mere  life  in  it. 

"  It  is  not  necessary,  Ben ;  she  is  better,  I  think,"  said 
the  young  man,  looking  half-timidly  into  the  boatman's 

face.  "  Don't  you  think  she  looks  beauti 1  mean,  don't 

you  think  she  looks  better,  a  great  deal  better,  Ben  ?  " 

Again,  that  grotesque  expression  seized  upon  Ben's  fea- 
tures ;  and,  setting  down  his  hat,  as  if  it  had  been  a  wash- 
bowl, he  took  Lina's  straw  hat  from  the  bottom  of  the  boat, 
where  it  had  fallen,  and  began  to  shake  out  the  ribbons 
with  great  energy. 

"  She  grows  pale — I'm  afraid  she  is  losing  ground  again, 
Ben,"  said  Ralph,  as  the  color  wavered  to  and  fro  on  the 
fair  cheek  beneath  his  gaze. 

"  Shall  I  fill  the  hat  again  ?  "  answered  Ben,  demurely. 


MabeFs   Mistake.  41 

"It  kinder  seems  to  be  the  filling  on  it  that  brings  her 
round  easiest  ?  " 

"  No,  you're  very  kind,  but  I'll  sprinkle  her  forehead — 
she  has  been  so  frightened,  you  know,  I  dare  say  she 
thought  the  snake  had  bitten — had  bitten  one  of  us,  Ben  ! 
That  is  right,  hold  the  hat  this  way." 

Ben  dropped  on  his  knees  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat, 
crushing  down  a  whole  forest  of  Lina's  wild  flowers,  and 
held  up  the  hat  reverently  between  his  hands. 

Ralph  put  back  the  masses  of  brown  hair  from  Lina's 
face,  and  began  to  bathe  it  gently,  almost  holding  his 
breath,  as  if  she  were  a  babe  he  was  afraid  of  waking. 

"  Isn't  she  a  dear,  generous  creature  ?  "  he  said,  at  last, 
with  a  burst  of  admiration.  "  It  took  a  fright  like  this,  to 
prove  how  precious  she  was  to  us  all ! " 

Instantly,  a  cloud  of  crimson  swept  over  Lina's  face  and 
bosom,  and  with  it  came  an  illumination  of  the  features, 
that  made  the  young  man  tremble  beneath  her  light 
weight. 

"  Lina,  dear  Lina  !  "  he  whispered. 

She  arose  from  his  arms,  crimson  again  to  the  temples, 
and  sat  down  in  silence,  her  eyes  downcast,  her  lips  trem- 
bling, as  if  a  great  effort  kept  her  from  bursting  into  tears. 

Ralph  saw  this,  and  his  face  clouded. 

"  What  have  I  done  ?  Are  you  angry  with  me,  Lina  ?  " 
he  whispered,  as  Ben  pushed  the  boat  off  and  gathered  up 
his  oars. 

"  Angry  !  No,  I  cannot  tell.  What  has  happened  to  us, 
Ralph?"  -*- 

"Don't  you  remember,  Lina?" 

"  Remember  ? — yes — now.     Oh,  it  was  horrible  !  " 

"  I,  Lina,  I  shall  always  remember  it  with  more  pleasure 
than  pain." 

She  lifted  her  eyes  with  a  timid,  questioning  glance. 
The  young  man  drew  close  to  her,  and  as  Ben  dashed  his 


42  MabePs   Mistake. 

oars  in  the  water,  thus  drowning  his  voice  to  all  but  her, 
whispered — 

"  Because  it  has  told  me  in  my  heart  of  hearts  ho  tv 
entirely  I  love  you,  Lina." 

Her  maidenly  shame  was  aroused  now.  She  shruuk 
from  his  glance,  blushing  and  in  silence. 

"  Will  you  not  speak  to  me,  Lina  ?  " 

"What  can  I  say,  Kalph ?  " 

"  That  you  love  me." 

A  little  coquettish  smile  stole  over  her  mouth. 

"  We  have  said  that  to  each  other  from  the  cradle  up." 

"  No,  never  before,  never  with  this  depth  of  meaning-  - 
my  heart  is  broken  up,  Lina ;  there  is  nothing  left  of  it  but 
a  flood  of  tender  love — you  are  no  longer  my  sister,  but  my 
idol ;  I  worship  you,  Lina !  " 

Again  Lina  lifted  her  eyes,  so  blue,  so  flooded  with 
gentle  gratitude  ;  but  she  did  not  speak,  for  Ben  was  resting 
on  his  oars,  while  the  boat  crept  silently  down  the  current. 

"  Why  don't  you  steer  for  home  ?  "  asked  Ralph,  impa- 
tient of  Ben's  eyes. 

"I  see  that  ere  old  respectable  gentleman  on  the  bank,  a 
looking  this  way,  so  I  thought  we'd  lie  to  and  refit  more 
part icul arty  about  the  upper  story.  If  Miss  Lina  there'll 
just  shake  them  ere  curls  back  a  trifle,  and  tie  on  her  bonnet  j 
and  if  you,  Mister  Ralph,  could  just  manage  to  look  t'other 
way  and  take  an  observation  of  the  scenery,  perhaps  we 
should  make  out  to  pass  with  a  clear  bill  and  without  over- 
haulin'." 

"  You  are  right,"  said  Ralph  after  a  moijaent,  looking 
anxiously,  toward  the  shore,  where  the  stately  figure  of  old 
Mr.  Harrington  was  distinctly  A'isible  ;  "  my  father  is  a 
great  stickler  for  proprieties.  Here  is  your  hat,  Lina — let 
me  fold  this  scarf  about  you." 

As  Ralph  spoke,  the  flush  left  his  face,  and  a  look  of 
fatigue  crept  over  Lina.  Ben  still  rested  on  his  oars.  He 


Mabels  Mistake.  43 

was  determined  to  give  the  old  gentleman  ample  opportu- 
nity to  continue  his  walk  inland,  before  the  young  people 
were  submitted  to  his  scrutiny.  As  they  lingered  floating 
upon  the  waters,  a  tiny  boat  shot  from  beneath  a  cliff  below 
them,  and  was  propelled  swiftly  down  the  river.  In  it  was 
a  female  rendered  conspicuous  by  a  scarlet  shawl,  and  in 
the  still  life  around  them,  this  boat  became  an  object  of 
interest.  It  was  only  for  a  moment,  the  young  people  were 
too  deeply  occupied  with  their  own  feelings  to  dwell  upon 
even  this  picturesque  adjunct  to  a  scene  which  was  now 
flooded  gorgeously  with  the  sunset.  Ben,  however,  became 
restless  and  anxious.  Without  a  word  he  seized  his  oars, 
and  pushed  directly  for  the  cove  in  which  his  boat  was 
usually  moored. 

Ralph  and  Lina  went  homewards  with  a  reluctance  never 
experienced  before.  A  sense  of  concealment  oppressed 
them.  An  indefinite  terror  of  meeting  their  friends,  ren- 
dered their  steps  slow  upon  the  green  sward.  As  they 
drew  towards  the  house,  Ralph  paused. 

"  Speak  to  me,  Lina,  my  heart  is  heavy  without  the 
sound  of  your  voice :  say  you  love  me,  or  shall  I  be  misera- 
ble with  suspense  ?  " 

The  young  girl  listened  with  a  saddened  and  downcast 
look.  A  heaviness  had  fallen  upon  her  with  the  first  sight 
of  old  Mr.  Harrington  on  the  bank.  True  he  had  gone 
now,  but  his  shadow  seemed  to  oppress  her  still. 

"  Will  you  not  speak  to  me,  Lina  ?  Will  you  not  relieve 
this  suspense  by  one  little  word  ?  " 

She  lifted  her  head  gently,  but  with  modest  pride. 

"  You  know  that  I  love  you,  Ralph." 

"  But  not  as  you  have  done.  I  am  not  content  with 
simple  household  affection.  Say  that  you  love  me,  body 
and  soul,  faults  and  virtues,  as  I  love  you." 

Lina  drew  herself  up,  and  a  smile,  sad  but  full  of  sweet- 
ness— half  presentiment,  half  faith — beamed  on  her  face. 


44  Mabets   Mistake. 

"  Your  soul  may  search  mine  to  its  depths  and  find  only 
itself  there.  I  do  love  you,  Ralph,  even  as  you  love  me  ! " 

Her  answer  was  almost  solemn  in  its  dignity;  for  the 
moment  that  fair  young  girl  looked  and  spoke  like  a  priest- 
ess. 

Ralph  Harrington  reached  out  his  hand,  taking  hers  in 
its  grasp. 

"  Why  are  you  so  pale  ?  Why  tremble  so  ? "  he  said, 
moving  towards  the  house. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  answered  Lina,  "  but  it  seems  as  if 
the  breath  of  that  rattlesnake  were  around  us  yet." 

"  You  are  sad — your  nerves  have  been  dreadfully  shaken 
— but  to-morrow,  Lina,  all  will  be  bright  again." 

Lina  smiled  faintly. 

"  Oh,  yes,  all  must  be  bright  to-morrow." 

As  they  passed  the  iron  gate  that  separated  the  lawn 
from  the  shore,  Ben,  who  had  seated  himself  in  the  boat, 
arose  suddenly,  and  pushed  his  little  craft  into  the  river 
again.  His  weather-beaten  face  was  turned  anxiously  down 
the  stream.  He  seized  the  oars,  and  urging  his  boat  into 
the  current,  pulled  stoutly,  as  if  some  important  object  had 
suddenly  seized  upon  him. 

"  Where  can  she  be  a  going  to  ?  What  on  earth  is  she 
after  ?  Has  the  old  rascal  broke  out  at  last  ?  Has  she 
give  way  ?  But  I'll  overhaul  her  !  Pull  away,  Ben  Ben- 
son, pull  away,  you  old  rascal !  What  bisness  had  you 
with  them  ere  youngsters,  and  she  in  trouble  !  Pull  away, 
or  I'll  break  every  bone  in  your  body,  Ben  Benson ! " 

Thus  muttering  and  reviling  himself,  Ben  was  soon  out 
of  sight,  burying  himself,  as  it  seemed,  in  the  dull  purple 
of  the  night  as>  it  crept  over  the  Hudson. 


Mabets   Mistake.  45 

CHAPTER  Y. 

ON   THE   BANKS   AND    ON   THE   RIVER. 

THERE  are  moments  in  every  human  life  when  we  would 
gladly  flee  from  ourselves  and  plunge  into  action  of  any 
kind,  to  escape  from  the  recognition  of  our  own  memories. 
This  recoil  from  the  past  seldom  comes  to  early  youth,  for 
to  that,  memories  are  like  the  light  breezes  of  April,  with 
nothing  but  tender  green  foilage,  and  opening  buds  to  dis- 
turb. With  youth  the  past  is  so  close  to  the  present,  that 
thought  always  leaps  forward  into  the  future,  and  in  the 
first  flush  of  existence  that  is  invariably  beautiful.  But  it 
is  a  different  thing  when  life  approaches  its  maturity. 
Then  the  spirit,  laden  down  with  events  that  have  culmin- 
ated, and  feelings  that  have  been  shaken  by  many  a  heart 
storm,  bends  reluctantly  to  the  tempest  like  the  stately  old 
forest  trees  laden  with  foilage,  which  bow  to  nothing  but 
the  inevitable  tornado. 

Mabel  Harrington  left  the  old  Mansion  House  with  a 
quicker  movement  and  more  rapid  step  than  was  natural  to 
her,  unless  some  strong  feeling  was  aroused,  or  some  impor- 
tant aim  to  be  accomplished.  At  such  times  her  action  was 
quick,  almost  imperious,  and  all  the  evidences  of  an  ardent 
nature,  fresh  as  youth  and  strong  as  maturity,  broke  forth 
in  each  movement  of  her  person  and  in  every  thought  of 
her  mind. 

She  walked  more  and  more  rapidly  as  the  distance 
between  her  and  the  house  increased,  for  the  open  air  and 
wider  country  gave  freedom  to  her  spirit.  As  she  walked 
her  earnest  grey  eyes  turned  from  the  river  to  the  sky  and 
abroad  upon  the  hills,  as  if  seeking  for  something  in  nature 
to  which  her  soul  might  appeal  for  sympathy  in  the  swell 
and  storm  of  feeling  that  a  few  simple  words  had  let  loose 
upon  her,  after  a  sleep  of  many  years. 


46  MabeCs   Mistake. 

"  Does  he  know  what  I  have  felt  and  how  I  have  suffered, 
that  he  stings  me  with  such  words  ?  His  father's  mar- 
riage !  And  was  I  not  the  spirit — nay,  the  victim  of  that 
marriage  ?  Why  should  he  speak  to  me  thus  ?  The  air 
was  enough — the  calm  sleep  of  the  winds — the  fragrance. 
I  was  a  girl  again,  till  his  quiet  taunt  awoke  me.  Does  he 
think  that  I  have  lost  a  thought  or  a  feeling  because  of  this 
dull  heavy  routine  of  cares  ?  Why  did  he  speak  to  me  in 
that  cold  tone  ?  I  have  not  deserved  it.  Heaven  knows  I 
have  not  deserved  it  from  him,  or  from  any  of  them  ! " 

Mabel  uttered  these  words  aloud,  as  she  approached  the 
banks  of  the  river,  and  her  voice  clear  and  rich  with  feel- 
ing, was  swept  out  upon  the  wind  which  bore  it  away, 
mingled  with  fragrance  from  the  dying  leaves. 

"  Does  he  think  with  common  men,  that  the  impulses  of 
youth  die  out  and  are  gone  ?  As  if  the  passions  of  youth 
did  not  become  the  power  of  maturity,  and  mellow  at  last 
into  the  calm  grandeur  of  old  age.  If  love  were  not  im- 
mortal, how  dreary  even  this  beautiful  world  would  seem, 
yet  being  so,  I  can  but  look  forward  to  another,  when  the 
shackles  of  this  life  will  fall  away." 

It  was  a  relief  to  speak  aloud.  The  sound  of  her  own 
voice  came  back  like  the  sympathy  she  dared  to  claim  only 
of  the  wind  and  the  waters,  that  flowed  on  with  their  eter- 
nal rush  of  sound,  like  the  years  of  life  that  Mabel  was 
mourning  over.  She  stood  upon  the  shore,  stately  and 
motionless,  her  eyes  full  of  trouble,  her  lips  tremulous  with 
impulsive  words  that  betrayed  a  soul  at  once  ardent  and 
pure.  The  wind  rose  around  her,  and  seizing  upon  her 
shawl  swept  it  in  picturesque  folds  about  her  person,  half 
drowning  her  voice,  or  she  would  not  have  dared  to  give  her 
thoughts  this  bold  utterance. 

It  was  this  picturesque  attitude  which  had  attracted  the 
attention  of  her  husband  in  the  library,  and  that  moment 
he  resolved  to  join  her  on  the  shore. 


Mabel's   Mistake.  47 

As  if  this  resolve  had  been  expressed  to  her  in  words,  a 
feeling  of  unrest  seized  upon  Mabel,  and  long  before  the 
old  man  was  ready  to  come  forth,  she  was  walking  rapidly 
across  the  brow  of  a  hill  that  bounded  the  valley  southward, 
keeping  along  the  bank,  but  concealed  by  the  undergrowth. 

She  paused  upon  a  rocky  cliff  that  broke  the  hill  side, 
breathing  more  freely  as  if  conscious  that  she  had  escaped 
some  unwelcome  intrusion.  A  boat  upon  the  river  drew 
her  attention,  and  she  saw  within  it  her  son  and  Lina 
floating  pleasantly  down  the  stream  together. 

"  How  happy  and  how  young  they  are  ! "  she  said  with  a 
gush  of  gentle  affection.  "  No  cares — no  broken  hopes — 
no  wishes  unexpressed — no  secrets ;  oh  !  in  this  lies  the 
great  happiness  of  existence.  Until  he  has  a  secret  to 
keep,  man  is,  indeed,  next  to  the  angels." 

Mabel  sat  down  upon  a  fallen  tree,  covered  with  a  dra- 
pery of  pale  green  moss.  She  watched  the  boat  in  a  sort 
of  dream,  as  it  drifted  toward  her.  How  much  of  the 
suffering  she  endured  might  yet  be  saved  to  the  young 
persons  it  contained !  Was  not  that  an  object  worth  living 
and  enduring  for?  Might  she  not  renew  her  youth  in 
them? 

Renew  her  youth  ?  What  need  was  there  of  that  ?  In 
all  her  existence  had  she  ever  been  so  full  of  life — so  vigor- 
ous of  mind — so  capable  of  the  highest  enjoyment?  In 
the  very  prime  and  glory  of  all  her  faculties — wise  in 
experience^— strong  from  many  a  silent  heart-struggle,  what 
could  she  gain  by  a  return  of  youth  ?  Nothing  !  surely 
nothing  !  Yet  she  watched  those  two  young  persons  with 
a  vague  feeling  of  sadness.  They  had  life  before  them,  a 
thousand  dreamy  delusions — a  thousand  alluring  hopes 
evanescent  as  the  apple  blossoms  of  May,  but  as  sweet  also. 

Mabel  was  too  noble  for  envy,  but  these  thoughts  sub- 
dued her  excitement  into  silent  mournfulness.  At  first,  she 
thought  to  walk  slowly  back  and  meet  the  young  people 
3 


48  MabeFs  Mistake. 

when  they  landed,  but  something  withheld  her  and  she  safc 
still,  dreamily  watching  them. 

She  saw  the  boat  drifting  idly  upon  the  current.  The 
gorgeous  forest  leaves  with  which  it  was  literally  carpeted 
struck  her  eyes  in  rich  masses  of  colors,  as  if  the  young 
people  had  imprisoned  a  portion  of  the  sunset  around  their 
feet.  She  could  distinguish  Ben  stooping  forward  seem- 
ingly half  asleep  upon  his  oars.  All  in  the  boat  seemed 
tranquil  and  happy,  like  creatures  of  another  life  afloat 
upon  the  rivers  of  paradise;  she  could  almost  see  their 
faces — those  happy  faces  that  made  the  fancy  still  more 
natural. 

As  she  watched  them  a  strange  pain  stole  to  her  heart. 
She  rose  suddenly  to  her  feet,  and  sweeping  a  hand  across 
her  eyes  as  if  to  clear  their  vision,  cast  long  searching 
glances  toward  the  boat,  striving  to  read  those  young  faces 
afar  off,  and  thus  relieve  her  mind  of  a  powerful  suspicion. 

"  Why  has  this  thought  never  presented  itself  before  ?  " 
she  said  with  a  pang  of  self  reproach.  "  Has,  this  eternal 
dream  blinded  me,  or  am  I  now  mistaken  ?  Poor  children 
— poor  Lina — is  this  cruel  destiny  to  fall  on  you  also  ?  " 

The  boat  came  drifting  toward  her  now  in  the  crimson 
light,  again  enveloped  in  purple  shadows  like  those  fairy 
skiffs  that  glide  through  our  dreams.  Mabel  watched  it 
till  her  eyes  filled  with  tears,  a  strange  thing — for  she  was 
not  a  woman  given  to  weeping,  save  as  tears  are  sometimes 
the  expression  of  a  tender  or  poetic  thought.  Pain  or 
wrong  were  things  for  her  to  endure  or  redress  ;  she  never 
wept  over  them. 

That  night  the  interest  which  she  felt  in  these  young 
persons  blended  painfully  with  memories  that  had  risen, 
like  a  sudden  storm,  in  her  nature.  She  felt  as  if  they 
were  destined  to  carry  forth  and  work  out  the  drama  of  her 
own  life,  and  that  this  agency  was  just  commencing.  As 
she  stood  thus  wrapped  in  turbulent  thoughts,  there  came 


Mabels   Mistake.  49 

through  the  brushwood  a  crash  of  branches  and  a  stir  of 
the  foliage  louder  than  the  wind  could  have  produced. 

Mabel  Harrington  was  in  no  mood  for  companionship. 
She  had  fled  from  the  house  to  be  alone,  and  this  approach 
startled  her. 

A  little  footpath  led  down  the  brow  of  the  hill  to  a  tiny 
promontory  on  which  a  few  hickory  trees  were  now  drop- 
ping their  nuts.  She  struck  hastily  into  this  path  and  .de- 
scended to  the  river.  Close  to  the  bank,  half  hidden  among 
the  dying  fern  leaves  that  drooped  over  it,  lay  a  miniature 
boat  scarcely  larger  than  an  Indian  canoe.  It  was  a  highly 
ornamented  and  symmetrical  little  craft,  that  any  child 
might  have  propelled  and  which  a  queen  fairy  would  have 
been  proud  to  own. 

Mabel  sprang  into  the  boat,  and  seating  herself  on  a  pile 
of  cushions  heaped  in  the  centre,  pushed  out  into  the 
stream.  There  was  no  hardihood  in  this,  she  had  been 
accustomed  to  action  and  exercise  all  her  life,  and  could 
propel  her  little  skiff  with  the  skill  and  grace  of  any 
Indian  girl. 

Her  boat  ran  out  from  the  promontory  and  shot  like  an 
arrow  across  the  water,  for  she  trembled  lest  some  voice 
should  call  her  back,  and  urged  her  light  oars  with  all  the 
impetuosity  of  her  nature. 

At  last,  beyond  hail  from  the  shore,  she  looked  back  and 
saw  a  man  standing  upon  the  brow  of  the  hill,  leaning 
against  the  oak  that  had  sheltered  her  a  few  moments  be- 
fore. Mabel  paused  and  rested  on  her  oars.  The  distance 
would  not  permit  her  to  distinguish  his  features,  but  the 
size  and  air  might  have  been  that  of  her  husband  had  his 
usual  habits  permitted  the  idea.  She  put  it  aside  at  once, 
nothing  could  have  induced  the  General  to  climb  the  steeps 
of  that  hill.  It  must  be  James.  These  two  persons  were 
alike  in  stature  and  partook  of  the  same  imposing  air. 
Yes,  it  must  be  James  Harrington,  and  was  it  from  him  she 


50  MabeCs   Mistake. 

had  fled  ?  Had  he  repented  of  the  harsh  words  that  had 
driven  her  forth  and  followed  her  with  hopes  of  atonement? 
Her  heart  rose  kindly  at  the  thought.  She  half  turned  her 
little  boat,  tempted  back  by  that  longing  wish  for  reconcilia- 
tion, which  was  always  uppermost  in  her  warm  nature. 

But  then  came  the  wholesome  after-thought  which  had  so 
often  checked  these  genial  impulses.  She  turned  the  boat 
slowly  back  upon  its  course  and  let  it  float  with  the  current, 
watching  the  rise  of  land  on  which  he  stood,  with  sad, 
wistful  glances,  that  no  one  saw,  save  the  God  who  knows 
how  pure  they  were,  and  how  much  the  resolution  to  go  on 
had  cost  her. 

As  the  boat  drifted  downward,  she  saw  the  person  turn 
as  if  speaking  to  some  one,  and  directly  a  female  form  stood 
by  his  side.  They  drew  close  together,  and  seemed  to  be 
conversing  eagerly.  His  look  was  no  longer  towards  the 
boat ;  he  had  doubtless  forgotten  its  existence. 

Mabel  held  her  breath,  the  color  left  her  lips  and  she 
grasped  the  oars  with  each  hand,  till  the  blood  was  strained 
back  from  her  finger?,  leaving  them  white  as  marble. 

"  Oh,  not  that !  not  that !  I  can  endure  anything  but 
that !  God  help  me !  0  my  God,  help  me  !  if  this  is 
added  to  the  rest,  I  cannot  live." 

Drops  of  perspiration  sprang  to  her  temples  as  she  spoke. 
Unconsciously  she  expended  the  first  strength  of  her 
anguish  on  "the  oars,  and  the  boat  shot  like  a  mad  thing 
into  the  rapids  which  swept  round  a  projection  of  rocks, 
and  like  some  tormented  spirit,  she  was  borne  away  from 
the  sight  that  had  wounded  her. 

There  was  danger  now.  The  rush  of  the  current,  tor- 
tured by  hidden  rocks,  sent  the  little  craft  onward,  as  if  it 
had  been  a  dead  leaf  cast  into  the  eddy.  Mabel  liked  the 
danger  and  the  tumult.  The  rising  wind  blew  in  her  face. 
The  waters  sparkled  and  dashed  around  her.  The  frail 
oars  bent  and  quivered  in  her  hands.  It  was  something  to 


Mabels  Mistake.  51 

brave  and  fight  against ;  but  for  this  scope  of  action  the 
new  anguish  that  had  swept  through  the  soul  of  that 
woman  must  have  smothered  her. 

On  the  little  boat  went,  dancing  and  leaping  d:wn  the 
current,  recoiling  with  a  quiver  from  the  hidden  rocks 
which  it  touched  more  than  once,  but  springing  vigorously 
back  to  its  flight,  like  a  bird  upon  the  wing. 

"  Oh,  if  this  be  so,  let  me  die  now.  Why  will  it  not 
strike  ?  How  came  they  to  make  the  boat  so  light  and  yet 
so  strong  ?  It  is  true  !  It  is  true  !  I  feel  it  in  every 
throb  of  my  pulse.  After  this,  the  life  that  I  thought  so 
dreary,  will  be  a  lost  paradise,  to  which,  plead  as  I  may, 
there  is  no  going  back.  I  will  know,  God  help  me,  but  I 
must  know  if  this  is  a  wild  suspicion,  or  a  miserable, 
miserable  reality  !" 

These  words  bespoke  the  concentration  of  some  resolves. 
She  grasped  her  oars  more  firmly,  and  with  a  sharp  glance 
around,  put  her  boat  upon  its  course.  It  shot  through 
hidden  rocks  ;  it  cut  across  the  eddies  recklessly  as  before, 
but  all  the  time  a  single  course  was  pursued.  At  last  the 
little  craft  entered  the  mouth  of  a  mountain  stream  that 
came  sparkling  down  a  pretty  hemlock  hollow  in  the  hills. 
The  hollow  was  dusky  with  coming  night,  but  the  tree-tops 
were  still  brightened  by  a  red  tinge  from  the  sunset,  and 
there  was  light  enough  to  find  a  footpath  which  wound  up- 
ward along  the  margin  of  the  brook. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   LITTLE   HOUSE    ON    THE   HILL. 

MABEL  left  her  boat   and  followed  the   path  till  she 
reached  a  natural  terrace  in  the  hills,  narrow  and  green, 


52  Mabels   Mistake. 

upon  which  a  small,  one-story  house  was  inugly  bestowed. 
The  terrace  was  uncultivated,  save  a  small  garden  patch 
close  to  the  house,  where  the  soil  was  torn  and  uneven 
from  the  uprooting  of  vegetables  from  the  rudely-shaped 
beds.  Sweetbrier  and  wild  honey-suckles  gave  a  pictur- 
esque grace  to  the  building,  at  variance  with  the  untidy 
state  of  the  grounds,  and  there  was  something  in  the  whole 
place  more  suggestive  of  refinement  than  is  usual  to  dwell- 
ings where  the  inmates  work  hard  for  their  daily  bread. 

Mabel  Harrington  had  never  been  in  this  place  before. 
As  she  approached  it,  the  cry  of  a  whippowil  came  up 
from  the  hollow,  as  if  warning  her  away.  Everything  was 
still  within  the  house.  There  was  no  light ;  the  rustle  of 
leaves  with  the  flow  of  waters  from  the  ravine,  joined  their 
mournful  whispers  with  the  wail  of  the  night  bird. 

Mabel  was  imaginative  as  a  girl,  and  this  solitude  de- 
pressed her;  still  she  moved  steadily  towards  the  house, 
and  knocked  at  the  door. 

A  woman  opened  it,  whose  person  was  seen  but  indis- 
tinctly, as  she  stood  within  the  small  entry,  holding  the 
door  with  one  hand ;  but  Mabel  saw  that  she  was  dark  and 
dressed  as  she  had  seen  that  class  of  persons  in  the  south. 

"  I  wish  to  see  Miss  Agnes  Barker  for  a  moment :  is  she 
in  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Harrington  with  her  usual  dignified  repose 
of  manner,  for  however  much  interested,  Mabel  was  not  one 
to  invite  curiosity  by  any  display  of  excitement,  and  it  must 
have  been  a  close  observer  who  could  have  detected  the  faint 
quiver  of  her  voice  as  she  expressed  this  common-place 
wish. 

"  She  don't  liv  hear  in  dis  shantee." 

"I  know.  She  lives  at  General  Harrington's,  up  the 
river,"  replied  Mabel,  "  but  it  is  some  weeks  since  she  has 
been  there,  and  I  expected  to  find  her  with  you." 

"  Missus,  pears  like  you  don't  know  as  Miss  Agnes  is 
young  lady,  from  top  to  toe,  ebery  inch  ob  her.  Is  you  the 
Missus  ?  " 


Mabel's   Mistake.  53 

"  I  am  Mrs.  Harrington,"  said  Mabel,  quietly. 

"  On  ! "  exclaimed  the  woman,  prolonging  the  mono- 
syllable almost  into  a  sneer,  "jes  coma  in.  I'se  mighty 
sorry  de  candle  all  burnt  out  an  done  gone." 

Mabel  entered  the  house,  and  sat  down  in  the  dim  light. 

"  Is  Missus  'lone  mong  dese  hills  ?  "  said  the  woman,  re- 
treating to  the  darkest  corner  of  the  room. 

"  Yes,  I  am  alone  ! "  answered  Mabel. 

"All  'lone  in  de  dark  wid  nothin  but  that  whippoorwill 
to  keep  company  ;  skeery,  aiii't  it,  Missus  ?  " 

If  the  woman  had  hoped  to  terrify  Mabel  Harrington  by 
these  words,  she  was  mistaken.  A  vague  feeling  of  loneli- 
ness was  upon  her,  but  she  had  no  cowardly  timidity  to  con- 
tend with. 

"  Don't  pear  skeery  no  how,"  said  the  woman. 

"  I  am  seldom  afraid  of  anything,"  answered  Mabel  with 
a  wau  smile.  "  I  came  to  inquire  for  Miss  Barker,  if  she  is 
not  here,  tell  me  where  she  can  be  found  ?" 

"Done  gone  out  to  de  hills,  pears  like  she  could  not 
stay  away  from  em." 

"  Was  she  your  mistress  in  the  south  ?  "  inquired  Mabel, 
troubled  by  the  woman's  voice. 

"Pears  so,  Missus." 

"  Some  one  has  managed  to  give  her  a  fine  education — I 
have  seldom  known  a  young  person  so  thoroughly  accom- 
plished," continued  Mabel  with  apparent  calm,  but  keenly 
attentive  to  every  word  that  fell  from  the  woman's  lips. 
"General  Harrington  informed  me  that  she  came  highly 
recommended,  but  her  attainments  surprised  us  all." 

"  Oh  yes,  young  missus  knows  heap  'about  dem  books  an 
pianers.  Done  born  lady,  no  poor  white  trash,  gorry 
mighty  knows  dat." 

"  Her  duties  are  more  particularly  with  Miss  Lina,  Gen. 
Harrington's  adopted  daughter,  who  makes  no  complaint 
against  her — for  myself,  our  intercourse  is  very  limited,  but 


54  Mabets   Mistake. 

she  pleases  the  General.  We  have  expected  her  at  the 
house  for  several  days,  and  thought  it  strange  that  she  did 
not  return." 

"  Ben  gone  ehery  day  dis  week,  sartin  sure,  long  walk, 
but  her's  ready  for  it.  Nebber  gets  home  fore  dark — walk, 
walk,  walk,  in  de  woods  wid  Marsa  James." 

Mabel  arose.  A  sickening  sensation  crept  over  her,  and 
she  went  to  the  open  door  for  air. 

It  was  true  then — that  suspicion  was  all  true !  Agnes 
Barker  had  been  in  the  neighborhood  of  her  old  home  for  a 
week,  without  the  knowledge  of  its  mistress.  That  very 
day  the  girl  had  met  James  Harrington  in  the  hills.  Her 
own  eyes  had  seen  them  standing  side  by  side  in  the  sun- 
set. 

"  'Pears  like  de  Missus  am  sick,"  said  the  woman,  com- 
ing toward  her  as  she  stood  cold  and  shuddering  under  this 
conviction. 

"  No,"  answered  Mabel,  gathering  up  her  strength,  but 
pressing  both  hands  upon  her  heart  beneath  the  crimson 
folds  of  her  shawl.  "  If  Miss  Barker  comes  to  the  house 
again  she  will  have  the  goodness  to  see  that  I  am  informed. 
Miss  Lina  is  anxious  to  renew  her  studies." 

"  Yes  Missus." 

"  Give  my  message  faithfully,"  answered  Mabel.  "  I 
must  speak  with  her  before  the  duties  of  her  situation  are 
resumed.  Good  night." 

"  Good  night  to  you,"  muttered  the  woman,  as  Mabel 
walked  away.  "  I  understand  you,  never  doubt  that. 
Agnes  is  beautiful,  and  keen  enough  for  a  dozen  such  as 
you.  I  thought  it  would  work  !  " 

Mrs.  Harrington  made  the  best  of  her  way  down  the 
footpath  which  she  had  threaded,  though  the  hollow  was 
filled  with  gloom,  and  the  whippowil  called  mournfully  after 
her  as  she  went. 

Her  boat  lay  where  she  had  left  it  in  the  mouth  of  the 


Mabel's   Mistake.  55 

creek.  As  she  stepped  into  it  a  cry  broko  from  her  lips, 
and  turning,  she  looked  wildly  up  the  hollow.  A  woman 
sprang  over  the  boat  as  she  stooped  for  the  oars,  and  with 
a  single  leap  cleared  the  bank,  landing  with  a  bound  in  the 
footpath  above  her. 

One  sharp  glance  she  cast  behind,  then  darted  away  as 
if  eager  to  bury  herself  in  the  hemlock  gloom. 

The  leap  had  been  so  sudden  and  the  whole  progress  so 
rapid,  that  Mabel  scarcely  saw  the  woman,  but  she  remem- 
bered after,  that  her  dress  was  dusky  red,  and  that  a  velvet 
cloak  swept  from  her  shoulders  downward  to  the  ground, 
half  torn  from  her  person  in  its  abrupt  movements.  As 
she  stood  lost  in  amazement  at  this  singular  apparition, 
Mabel  fancied  that  she  heard  the  dip  of  oars,  and  could 
detect  the  dim  outline  of  a  boat  making  up  the  river. 

She  sat  down  mute,  and  troubled,  looking  after  what 
seemed  at  best  a  floating  shadow ;  the  night  had  darkened 
rapidly,  and  instead  of  the  new  moon  which  should  have 
silvered  the  sky,  came  billows  of  black,  angry  clouds,  in 
which  the  thunder  began  to  roll  and  mutter  hoarse  threats 
of  a  storm.  Frightened  \>y  the  brooding  tempest,  Mabel 
pushed  her  boat  out  from  the  shore,  and  began  to  row  vigor- 
ously homeward  ;  but  she  had  scarcely  got  into  deep  water 
when  the  clouds  became  black  as  midnight ;  the  winds  rose 
furiously,  lashing  the  waters  and  raging  fiercely  through 
the  tree  tops,  while  burst  after  burst  of  thunder  broke  over 
the  hills.  She  could  only  see  her  course  clearly  when 
flashes  of  lightning  shot  at  intervals  through  the  "trees,  and 
broke  in  gleams  of  scattered  fire  among  the  waves,  now 
dashing  and  leaping  angrily  around  her. 

Mabel  was  excited  out  of  her  anxieties  by  this  turmoil. 
There  was  something  in  the  force  and  suddenness  of  the 
storm  that  aroused  all  her  courage.  The  vexed  trees  were 
bent  and  torn  by  the  winds.  The  river  was  lashed  into  a 
sea  of  foam,  over  which  her  frail  boat  leaped  and  quivered 


56  Mabels  Mistake, 

like  a  living  thing ;  but  she  sat  steady  in  the  midst,  pale 
and  firm,  taking  advantage  of  each  gleam  of  lightning  to 
fix  her  course,  and  facing  the  storm  with  a  steady  braver^ 
which  had  no  fear  of  death. 

Still  the  tempest  rose  and  lashed  itself  into  fury  from  the 
rocky  coast  to  the  depths  of  the  stream,  and  the  little  boat 
went  plunging  through  it,  keeping  the  brave  woman  safe. 
The  oars  were  useless  as  rushes  in  her  hands.  The  waves 
leaped  upward  as  the  wind  lashed  them,  and  at  times 
rushed  entirely  over  her.  It  was  a  fearful  sight,  that  noble 
woman,  all  alone  with  the  storm  !  so  close  to  death  and  yet 
so  resolute !  Blacker  and  nearer  grew  the  clouds  torn  by 
whirlwinds,  and  shooting  out  lurid  gleams  of  lightning, 
that  flashed  and  curled  along  the  water  like  fiery  serpents 
chasing  each  other  into  their  boiling  depths.  So  great  way 
the  tumult  that  another  sound,  which  came  like  a  smothered 
howl  through  the  storm,  seemed  but  a  part  of  it.  Thus 
Mabel  was  unconscious  of  this  new  danger,  till  a  glare  of 
lightning  swept  everything  else  aside,  and  bearing  directly 
toward  her,  she  saw  a  huge  steamer  ploughing  through  the 
tempest,  on  her  downward  course. 

Scarce  had  she  time  to  recoil  with  horror  from  the 
danger,  when  it  was  wrapped  in  darkness  again,  and  she 
could  only  guess  of  its  approach  by  the  cabin  windows  that 
glared  upon  her  nearer  and  nearer,  like  great  fiery  eyes 
half  blinded  by  the  storm.  Mabel  nerved  herself,  and  with 
a  desperate  effort  bent  her  strength  upon  the  oars.  But 
the  heave  of  the  waters  tore  one  from  her  grasp,  and  the 
other  remained  useless.  Human  strength  was  of  no  avail 
now.  She  was  given  up  to  the  tempest,  and  could  only 
cling  to  the  reeling  boat  mute  with  horror,  still  with  a 
thought  of  those  she  loved  vital  at  her  heart.  Another 
sheet  of  lightning,  blue  and  livid,  rolled  down  the  hills,  and 
in  it,  standing  upon  a  spur  of  rocks,  she  saw  James  Har- 
rington, either  in  life  or  in  spirit,  looking  forth  upon  the 


Mabets   Mistake.  57 

river.  His  figure  took  the  deadly  hue  of  the  light.  His 
garments  shook  to  the  storm.  The  pale  flame  quivered 
around  him  a  moment,  and  he  was  engulphed  in  darkness 
agai-n. 

Mabel  flung  up  her  hands  with  a  cry  that  cut  through 
the  storm  like  an  arrow. 

"  Save  me  !  save  me  !  oh,  my  God  !  my  God  !  " 

Her  pale  hands  quivered  in  the  lightning.  The  shrieks 
that  rang  from  her  white  lips  were  smothered  in  the  fierce 
wind.  The  tortured  boat  seemed  flinging  her  out  to  utter 
despair. 

A  roar  that  was  not  of  the  elements,  now  broke  through 
all  the  tumult.  There  came  a  rush — an  upheaving  of  the 
waters,  which  flung  her  high  into  the  darkness — a  blow 
that  made  her  little  bark  quake  in  all  its  timbers — a  plunge 
— a  black  rush  of  waters.  She  was  hurled  beneath  the 
wheels  of  the  steamer — engulphed  in  utter  darkness.  It 
was  her  last  struggle  with  the  storm. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE   UNEXPECTED    PASSENGER. 

WHILE  Ben  Benson  was  landing  Ralph  Harrington  and 
Lina,  he  lost  sight  of  the  boat  which  had  so  effectually 
aroused  his  interest,  and  when  he  was  ready  to  put  out 
again,  it  was  lost  in  the  inequalities  of  the  shore. 

Ben  put  out  into  the  river,  bearing  towards  the  opposite 
bank  at  first,  but  meeting  with  no  signs  of  his  object,  he 
returned  again,  consuming  time,  and  thus  giving  consider- 
able start  to  Mrs.  Harrington's  little  craft. 

As  Ben  neared  the  land  again,  he  saw  a  gleam  of  crim- 
son garments  through  the  evergreens  that  fringed  the  rocky 


58  Mabets   Mistake. 

shore,  and  remembering  the  shawl  which  Mabel  had  on, 
was  overjoyed  to  know  that  she  had  landed,  and  was  com- 
paratively safe  from  the  storm,  which  grew  more  and  more 
assured  in  its  signs. 

With  his  anxieties  thus  appeased,  Ben  rowed  his  boat 
more  securely  to  the  nearest  point  that  promised  a  safe 
landing,  resolved  to  court  the  recognition  of  his  mistress, 
and  when  she  was  weary  of  her  ramble,  convey  her  safely 
home  again. 

When  he  reached  the  desired  point;  Ben  could  see  that 
the  crimson  garments  were  moving  through  the  under- 
growth with  a  pace  more  rapid  than  any  mere  rambler 
would  have  chosen  ;  but  what  surprised  him  was  the  course 
pursued  down  the  river.  His  mistress,  if  frightened  by  the 
clouds,  would  doubtless  have  turned  homeward. 

Ben  stood  up  in  his  boat  and  waved  his  tarpaulin  with 
energy. 

"  Hallo  —  Madam  —  Mrs.  Harrington,  I  say,  there's 
thunder  and  war  ahead,  I  tell  you.  Don't  go  too  far. 
Don't  go  out  of  sight.  The  water's  a-getting  roughish 
now,  and  the  woods  won't  be  safe  after  the  clouds  burst ! " 

Ben  sent  these  words  through  an  impromptu  speaking 
trumpet  made  with  one  hand  curved  around  his  mouth.  He 
was  well  pleased  with  the  effect,  for  the  red  garments  began 
to  flutter,  and  he  saw  that  the  wearer  was  moving  rapidly 
down  the  hill  towards  the  point  where  he  lay. 

"  That's  what  I  call  obeying  signals  at  once ! "  said  the 
honest  fellow,  seating  himself  in  the  stern  of  his  boat. 
"  But  she  knows  as  Ben  Benson  wouldn't  take  the  liberty 
of  hurrying  her  if  he  hadn't  a  good  reason  for  what  he's 
a-doin' — not  he  !  " 

And  with  this  complacent  reflection,  Ben  withdrew  the 
tobacco  from  his  mouth,  and  sent  it  far  into  the  water, 
remembering  Mrs.  Harrington's  objections  to  the  weed, 
and  ready  to  send  his  life  after  that,  if  it  could  afford  her  a 
moment's  gratification. 


MabeFs   Mistake.  59 

"  Ben,"  said  he,  looking  after  the  tobacco  as  it  was  tossed 
from  one  wave  to  another,  and  shaking  his  fist  after  it  in 
virtuous  indignation,  "that's  a  habit  as  you  ought  to  be 
ashamed  on,  Ben  Benson,  a  habit  as  no  dog  wouldn't  take 
from  you  on  any  account,  yet  you've  just  kept  it  up  chaw- 
ing and  chawing  from  morning  till  night,  till  she'll  catch 
you  at  it  some  day,  and  then  you'll  have  done  for  yourself, 
and  no  mistake.  I  should  like  to  see  her  a-settin'  in  your 
boat  arter  that.  Tobackee  '11  be  the  ruin  of  you  yit,  Ben. 
Grog's  nothing  to  it." 

A  light  step  upon  the  moss  silenced  the  boatman,  but  he 
kept  his  position,  resolved  to  be  very  severe  with  himself 
for  his  manifold  sins,  this  of  tobacco  being  uppermost. 

"  Mr.  Benson,  you  are  kind,  I  am  so  much  obliged !  " 

Ben  started.  The  voice  was  a  pleasant  one,  but  his 
rough  heart  sunk  low  with  disappointment — the  tones  were 
not  those  of  Mrs.  Harrington. 

"  I  could  not  possibly  have  reached  home  on  foot,"  said 
the  same  sweet  voice,  and  a  young  lady  sprang  lightly  into 
the  boat.  "  I  hope  the  river  will  prove  safe  ! " 

"  I  was  waiting  for  Mrs.  Harrington,  marm,  and  mistook 
you  for  her — that's  all,"  said  Ben,  without  lifting  his  eyes 
to  the  singular  girl  that  stood  close  to  him. 

"  Mrs.  Harrington  has  gone  down  the  river  long  ago —  ' 
she  passed  that  point  of  land  with  the  last  sunbeam,"  said 
the   young    girl,  seating    herself    comfortably  among  the 
cushions. 

"  Are  you  sartin  of  that  ere  ?  "  questioned  Ben,  taking 
up  his  oars  hurriedly.  "  Just  give  me  her  bearing,  and  I'll 
show  you  what  rowing  is." 

"  You  can't  possibly  have  a  better  pilot  than  I  am," 
answered  the  lady,  laughing  till  a  row  of  closely  set  but 
uneven  teeth  were  visible  in  the  waning  light.  "  In  search- 
ing for  Mrs.  Harrington,  you  will  naturally  take  me  home- 
ward; when  she  is  found,  I  will  allow  myself  to  be  set 
ashore." 


60  Mabels  Mistake. 

"The  shore's  no  fit  place  for  a  young  gal  arter  dark," 
said  Ben  gruffly,  but  pushing  his  boat  out  into  the  stream. 
"  For  my  part,  I  can't  make  out  what  brings  you  up  into 
the  hills  so  often.  Why  don't  you  come  home  for  good  and 
all  ?  Miss  Lina  don't  want  any  more  vacation,  I  reckon." 

"  Oh,  my  health  isn't  quite  established  yet,  Mr.  Benson," 
said  the  girl,  looking  at  the  boatman  with  a  sidelong 
glance  of  her  black,  almond-shaped  eyes,  a  glance  that  Ben 
was  internally  comparing  to  that  of  the  rattlesnake,  when 
he  shrank  off  into  a  hollow  of  the  rocks. 

"  I  shouldn't  think  it  very  wholesome  to  be  out  so  much 
at  night !  "  said  Ben. 

"  Oh,  I  live  on  fresh  air,  and  love  it  best  when  moist  with 
dew !  "  answered  the  girl. 

"  If  it  ain't  moist  with  something  stronger  than  dew 
afore  long,  I  lose  my  guess ! "  muttered  Ben,  looking 
upward.  "If  this  night  don't  see  a  reg'lar  tornado,  I'll 
give  up — beat." 

For  a  short  time  Ben  plied  his  oars,  casting  anxious 
glances  down  the  shore,  hoping  to  find  Mrs.  Harrington 
and  her  boat  safe  in  some  inlet  or  cove,  waiting  for  them. 

"  In  course,"  said  Ben,  muttering  as  usual  to  himself. 
"  In  course,  she'd  know,  as  I  was  sure  to  come.  What  on 
the  Lord's  arth  is  Ben  Benson  good  for,  but  to  follow  arter 
and  tend  on  her  ?  The  king  of  all  the  Sandwich  Islands 
couldn't  have  a  higher  business  than  that,  let  alone  a  poor 
feller  of  a  boatman,  as  has  circumwented  his  sea  voyages 
down  to  a  pair  of  oars  and  a  passenger  'that's  not  over 
agreeable." 

"  Whom  are  you  talking  to,  Mr.  Benson  ?  "  inquired  the 
young  lady,  wasting  a  smile  on  the  moody  boatman,  though 
-he  threatening  sky  made  her  somewhat  anxious  about  her 
own  safety. 

"  To  an  individual  as  calls  hisself  Ben  Benson.  He's  a 
feller  as  be.ars  with  my  faults  better  than  anybody  else,  as 


Mabels   Mistake.  61 

I  knows  on,  and  one  as  is  rather  particular  about  being 
intruded  on,  when  he's  holding  a  private  conversation  with 
hisself.  That's  the  individual,  Miss  Agnes,  as  I  was  a 
holding  a  council  with." 

"  And  you  would  a  little  rather  have  no  interruption — is 
that  it  ?  "  said  the  lady.  "  Well,  well,  I  can  be  silent,  you 
shall  see  that ! " 

"  Doubtful ! "  muttered  Ben,  using  his  oars  with  fresh 
vigor. 

The  girl  he  called  Agnes,  folded  her  cloak  about  her  and 
settled  down  among  the  cushions,  casting  wistful  glances  at 
the  sky.  "Look,"  she  said  at  last,  pointing  upward, 
"those  small  lead-colored  clouds,  how  darkly  they  drift 
together  !  Did  you  ever  see  a  flock  of  pigeons  flying  over 
the  western  woods,  Mr.  Benson  ?  " 

"  Knew  she  wouldn't  do  it,"  muttered  Ben,  with  his  eyes 
bent  on  the  clouds. 

"  See,  see  !  "  cried  the  girl.  "  The  sky  is  black — I  have 
seen  the  same  thing ! " 

"  But  them  was  nothing  but  innocent  birds  a  flying  after 
something  to  eat,"  said  Ben.  "  These  ere  clouds,  Miss 
Agnes,  has  got  a  good  many  unroofed  housen',  and  ship- 
wrecks, and  trees  broken  in  two,  and  torn  up  by  the  roots, 
in  'em,  to  say  nothing  of  this  ere  boat  as  may  be  upsot  any 
minute." 

The  girl  turned  pale ;  her  black  eyes  shone  with  sudden 
fear. 

"  Do  you  think  there  is  really  any  danger,  Mr.  Ben- 
son?" 

"  Danger  ?  Of  course  there's  danger  !  What  did  I  fol- 
low arter  that  little  boat  for,  if  there  wasn't  no  danger?" 

"  Perhaps — perhaps,"  said  Agnes  tremulously,  "  it  would 
be  safer  on  shore.  The  walk  will  not  be  much  now. 
What  do  you  say  to  running  ashore  ?  " 

"  There'll  be  a  howling  among  the  rocks  afore  you  get 


62  Mabel's  Mistake. 

round  the  first  point,  that  'ud  take  your  breath ;  besides, 
when  the  winds  begin  to  rush  ther'll  be  a  crashing  down  of 
trees,  and  broken  limbs  will  be  flying  thick  enough.  No, 
no — unsartain  as  the  river  is,  you'd  better  keep  still.  I 
don't  want  your  death  on  my  conscience,  any  how." 

"  But  can  you  swim  if  we  should  capsize  ?  "  questioned 
Agnes,  growing  pale  and  cold. 

"  Swim,  can  Ben  Benson  swim  ? "  cried  the  boatman 
with  a  hoarse  laugh.  "  Well,  I  should  think  that  he  can 
swim  a  trifle." 

The  girl  fixed  her  black  eyes  upon  him.  They  were 
large  and  bright  with  terror. 

"  Fast,  pull  fast,"  she  said,  "  let  me  help  you — is  there 
anything  in  which  I  can  help  you  ?  How  slow  the  boat 
goes — pull,  pull !  " 

"  We  are  agin  the  wind,  and  it's  getting  strongish,"  an- 
swered Ben. 

"  What  can  we  do  ? "  cried  out  the  girl  clasping  her 
hands.  "  Hear  how  it  howls — how  the  trees  begin  to 
moan  !  Is  not  the  storm  at  its  height  now  ?  " 

"  You'll  see  by  and  by,"  said  Ben,  bowing  his  moist  fore- 
head down  to  the  sleeve  of  his  jacket,  and  wiping  away  the 
perspiration  that  was  now  falling  from  it  like  rain. 

"  Oh,  what  will  become  of  us  ?  "  shrieked  the  girl. 

"What  has  become  of  her?"  echoed  Ben,  casting  sharp 
despairing  glances  toward  the  shore,  which  was  now  dark- 
ened, and  in  a  turmoil. 

"  There  is  my  home — there,  there,  on  the  side  hill.  A 
light  is  just  struck  in  the  window.  Set  me  on  shore — oh, 
Mr.  Benson,  do  set  me  on  shore !  " 

"  Not  till  I  find  her"  answered  Ben,  resolutely,  "  you 
would  get  in,  so  make  the  best  of  it." 

The  girl  grew  white  as  death. 

"  Let  me  ashore,  or  it  will  be  my  death — I  am  sick  with 
terror,"  she  pleaded. 


Mabel's   Mistake.  63 

Ben  did  not  appear  to  listen.  He  was  looking  wildly 
down  the  stream,  right  and  left,  with  despair  in  his 
glances. 

"  Where  is  she  ?  What  can  have  become  of  her  ?  "  he 
cried  out  at  last,  sinking  forward  on  his  oars,  and  allowing 
the  boat  to  struggle  for  herself  against  the  wind. 

"  At  home,  no  doubt,"  answered  the  girl,  struck  with  a 
selfish  thought,  in  which  there  was  hope  of  safety. 

"  How  !     What  ?  "  exclaimed  Ben  fiercely,   "  at  home  ! " 

"  No  doubt  she  left  her  boat  in  some  cove  and  went  home 
along  the  shore,"  persisted  the  girl.  "  She  would  be  sure 
to  put  in  somewhere  ! " 

Ben's  face  lighted  up,  and  his  eyes  glowed  with  hope. 

"  It  may  be — of  course  it  is.  She  went  back  long  ago, 
no  doubt  on  it,"  he  exclaimed,  joyfully.  "Why  Ben 
Benson,  what  a  precious  old  fool  you  was  not  to  think  of 
that.  Miss  Agnes,  I'll  set  you  ashore  now  anywhere  you'll 
pint  out,  if  the  boat  lives  through  it." 

"Now,  now!"  cried  the  girl,  breathless  with  terror, 
"strike  for  land  anywhere — I  know  the  shore.  Only  put 
me  on  dry  land  again — it's  all  I  ask." 


CHAPTEE  VIII. 

OUT    OF   THE    STORM. 

Ben  altered  his  course  with  a  great  effort,  and  forced  a 
passage  to  the  broken  shore.  He  was  too  busy  in  preserv- 
ing his  boat  from  being  dashed  upon  the  rocks,  to  remark 
with  what  eager  selfishness  the  girl  left  him,  only  uttering 
a  quick  ejaculation,  and  darting  away  without  thanks.  By 
the  time  he  could  look  around  she  had  plunged  into  a 
neighboring  ravine,  an4  he  saw  no  more  of  her. 
4 


64  Mabets  Mistake. 

Though  the  current  was  running  high,  Ben  had  the 
whole  force  of  the  wind  to  urge  him  on,  and  his  steady 
seamanship  made  the  progress  up  stream  less  dangerous 
than  the  descent  had  been.  But  the  toil  was  great  and 
every  muscle  of  his  brawny  arms  rose  to  its  full  strain  as  he 
bent  all  his  strength  upon  the  oars.  But  with  his  greatest 
anxieties  at  rest,  Ben  cared  little  for  this.  With  no  life  but 
his  own  at  stake,  the  tempest  was  nothing  to  the  brave  man. 

But  it  grew  terrible.  The  boat  was  more  than  once 
hurled  out  of  water.  The  waves  dashed  over  him ;  the 
wind  carried  off  his  hat  and  beat  fiercely  against  his  head, 
sweeping  the  long  hair  over  his  face.  Again  and  again  the 
current  wheeled  his  boat  around,  drifting  it  back  with  a 
force  he  could  not  resist,  sometimes  close  to  the  shore, 
sometimes  out  in  the  torrent  of  waters.  It  was  impossible 
now  to  see  his  course,  except  by  the  lightning.  The  entire 
darkness  baffled  him  more  than  the  storm. 

Once  when  the  boat  was  seized  upon  and  hurled  back- 
ward, Ben  saw  innumerable  lights  sweeping  by  in  the  fog 
between  him  and  the  shore,  and  he  uttered  a  shout  of  wild 
thanksgiving  that  the  steamer  had  not  run  him  down.  ..As 
the  water  heaved  him  to  and  fro,  a  glare  of  lightning 
revealed  this  monster  boat,  moving  downward,  and — oh, 
horror  of  horrors  !  Mabel  Harrington,  just  as  the  vortex 
engulphed  her.  Two  white  arms  were  flung  upward.  Her 
hair  streamed  in  the  lightning.  The  deathly  white  face 
was  turned  shoreward. 

The  might  of  twenty  men  was  in  his  arms  then.  He 
flung  back  the  rushing  waves  with  his  oars,  and  from  a  will 
fiercer  than  his  strength,  forced  his  boat  toward  her.  In  a 
minute  the  darkness  of  death  was  around  him.  Blasts  of 
wind  and  great  gushes  of  rain  swept  over  him.  He  shouted 
aloud.  He  beat  the  waters  madly  with  his  oars.  He  called 
upon  God  for  one  more  flash  of  lightning. 

It  came.     He  saw  a  distant  steamer,  an  up-turned  boat 


MabeVs   Mistake.  65 

and  something  darker  than  the  foam  heaving  upon  the 
waters. 

"  Hold  on  !  Hold  on  ! — I'm  coming — I'm  coming — it's 
Ben — it's  Ben.  Oh  God,  give  me  light ! " 

He  was  answered.  A  crash  of  thunder — a  trail  of  fire — • 
and  an  old  cedar  tree  on  the  shore  flamed  up  with  the  light 
he  had  prayed  for. 

It  flamed  up  and  Ben  saw  a  man  plunge  from  the  rocks 
into  the  boiling  waters.  He  bent  to  the  oar,  his  boat 
rushed  through  the  waves,  and  as  he  came  one  way,  that 
white  face  moved  steadily  from  the  shore.  The  waters  were 
buffeted  fiercely  around  it.  Some  mighty  power  seemed  to 
sweep  back  the  storm  from  where  it  moved. 

It  disappeared,  rose  and  sunk  again.  Ben  pushed  his 
boat  to  the  spot  where  he  had  seen  Mabel  disappear.  His 
bow  dashed  against  the  little  boat  already  broken  in  twain, 
and  its  fragments  broke  upon  the  water.  He  looked  wildly 
about.  The  face  was  gone.  The  dark  heap  which  he  had 
taken  for  Mabel,  had  disappeared.  Ben's  strong  arms  be- 
gan to  tremble ;  tears  of  anguish  met  the  beating  rain,  as  it 
broke  over  his  face.  Despair  seized  upon  him.  He  dashed 
his  oars  into  the  bottom  of  the  boat  and  stood  up,  ready  for 
a  plunge.  He  would  never  go  back  and  say  that  his  mis- 
tress had  been  suffered  to  drown  before  his  face.  His 
clasped  hands  were  uplifted — the  boat  reeled  under  him — 
he  was  poised  for  the  mad  plunge  ! 

No,  his  hands  fell.     A  hoarse  shout  broke  from  him. 

"  Here,  here  I  am  !  here — away  !  " 

He  seized  the  oars  again,  looking  wildly  around,  for  the 
voice  that  had  hailed  him  by  name,  up  from  the  deep,  as  it 
.seemed.  It  came  again,  and  close  by  the  boat  that  grand 
head  appeared  struggling  for  life. 

Ben  struck  out  his  oars. 

"  Do  not  move — do  not  strike,  or  you  may  kill  her  yet ! " 


66  Mabets  Mistake. 

"  Is  she  there  ?  Can  you  hold  on  ?  "  cried  Ben,  trem- 
bling in  every  limb  of  his  stout  frame. 

A  hand  seized  one  side  of  the  boat.  Close  to  the  manly 
head  he  had  seen,  was  the  marble  face  of  Mabel  Harring- 
ton, half  veiled  by  tresses  of  wet  hair.  Ben  fell  upon  his 
knees,  and  plunging  his  arms  into  the  waves,  drew  her  into 
the  boat. 

"  For  the  shore — for  your  life  !  "  shouted  James  Harring- 
ton, refusing  to  be  helped,  but  clinging  to  the  boat.  "No, 
no — strike  out ;  I  will  hold  on — pull — pull ! " 

Ben  took  off  his  coat,  and  rolling  it  in  a  bundle,  placed  it 
under  Mabel  Harrington's  head.  It  was  all  he  could  do. 
The  boat  was  a  third  full  of  water,  and  he  had  nothing  else. 

"  Get  in — get  in — or  she  will  be  drowned  over  again  ! " 
he  pleaded,  seizing  James  Harrington  by  the  shoulders, 
and  dragging  him  over  the  side.  "  Get  down,  keep  her 
head  out  of  water,  and  it'll  take  a  worse  storm  than  this 
to  drive  me  back." 

Harrington  fell  rather  than  sat  down,  and  took  Mabel  in 
his  arms,  close  to  a  heart  so  chilled  that  it  had  almost 
ceased  beating.  But  as  her  cold  face  fell  upon  his  bosom,  a 
glow  of  life  came  back  to  it,  with  a  pang  of  unsupportable 
feeling.  It  was  not  joy — it  was  not  sorrow — but  the 
warmth  in  his  veins  seemed  like  a  sweet  poison,  which 
would  end  in  death. 

He  put  the  numb  and  senseless  form  aside  with  a  great 
effort,  resting  the  head  upon  Ben's  coat.  Twice  he  at- 
tempted to  speak,  but  his  trembling  lips  uttered  nothing 
but  broken  moans. 

"  Take  her,"  he  said  to  Ben,  "  take  her  and  I  will  pull 
the  oars." 

"  You  haven't  life  enough  in  you,  sir,"  pleaded  Ben, 
shrinking  from  the  proposal. 

"  I  am  strong  again,"  said  Harrington,  placing  himself 
on  the  scat  and  taking  the  oars.  "  See ! " 


Mabets   Mistake.  67 

The  boat  plunged  heavily  shoreward.  Ben  held  his  mis- 
tress with  a  sort  of  terror  at  the  sacrilege.  His  brawny 
arms  trembled  around  her.  He  turned  his  face  to  the 
storm,  rather  than  allow  his  eyes  to  rest  upon  her.  But 
James  Harrington  had  no  compassion ;  he  still  kept  to  the 
oars. 

At  last  they  shot  into  a  point  of  the  shore,  formed  by 
two  or  three  jutting  rocks.  Harrington  dropped  the  oars, 
and  the  two  men  lifted  Mabel  Harrington  from  the  boat, 
and  bore  her  to  a  slope  of  the  hill.  No  shelter  was  in 
sight.  The  sudden  storm  was  abating,  but  rain  still 
dropped  in  showers  from  the  trees. 

"  Where  can  we  convey  her  ?  What  shall  we  do  ?  "  said 
Harrington,  looking  around  in  dismay.  "  She  will  perish 
before  we  can  obtain  warmth,  if  she  is  iwt  already  gone." 

Ben  had  flung  down  his  coat.  They  laid  her  upon  it. 
James  Harrington  knelt  upon  the  turf,  and  lifted  her  head 
to  his  knee.  The  face  was  pale  as  death  ;  purple  shadows 
lay  about  the  mouth,  and  under  the  ejes ;  her  flesh  was 
cold  as  marble. 

Again  the  deathly  cold  came  creephg  to  Harrington's 
heart.  He  shuddered  from  head  to  foot,  "  She  is  dead — 
she  is  dead  ! "  broke  from  his  chilled  lips. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Harrington,  Mr.  Haringtot,  what  can  we  do  ? 
What  can  we  do  ?"  groaned  Ben,  clashing  his  huge  hands, 
and  crying  like  a  child  over  the  poor  lady.  "  She  isn't 
dead — don't !  That  word  is  enough  to  sill  a  poor  miserable 
feller,  as  wanted  to  die  for  her  and  coulin't." 

His  only  answer  was  a  low  moan  from  James  Harring- 
ton. 

"Is  there  no  house,  no  living  soul  neir  to  give  us  help  ?" 
said  James  Harrington,  lifting  his  white  face  to  that 'of 
Ben  Benson,  while  his  voice  shook,  anl  his  arms  trembled 
around  the  cold  form  they  half  suppcrted,  half  embraced. 
"  If  there  is  a  spark  of  life  left  it  will  jo  out  in  this  cold— 
if  she  is  dead — " 


68  Mabets   Mistake. 

"Don't!  oh,  Mister  James,  don't!"  cried  Ben  wringing 
his  hands  with  fresh  violence,  "  them's  cruel  words  to  stun 
a  poor  fellow's  heart  with — she  ain't  dead,  God  don't  take 
his  angels  up  to  glory  in  that  'ere  way ! " 

James  laid  Mabel  reverently  from  his  arms,  and  stood  up 
casting  anxious  glances  through  the  storm. 

"There  is  a  light,  yonder  upon  the  hill-side, — you  can 
just  see  it  through  the  drifting  clouds — go,  Ben,  climb  for 
your  life  and  bring  tis  help  !  " 

Ben  stooped  down,  clapped  a  hand  on  each  knee  and 
took  an  observation. 

"  There  is  a  light,  that's  sartin,"  he  said  joyfully,  settling 
himself  in  his  wet  clothes  and  making  a  start  for  the  hill ; 
but  directly  he  turned  back  again. 

"  If  she's  so  near  gone  as  you  speak  on,  Mister  James,  it 
wouldn't  be  of  no  use  for  me  to  go  up  there  for  help — she'd 
be  chilled  through  and  through,  till  there  was  no  bringing 
her  back,  long  afore  I  could  half-way  climb  the  hill ! " 

"  I  fear  it,  I  fear  it ! "  said  Harrington,  looking  mourn- 
fully down  on  the  nhite  face  at  his  feet,  "  God  help  her ! " 

"  See,"  said  Ben  stretching  forth  his  hand  towards  the 
burning  cedar,  "  Gwl  Almighty  has  gin  us  light  and  fire 
close  by — the  grass  is  crisped  and  dried  up  all  around  that 
tree.  What  if  we  carry  the  madam  there  ?  I'll  go  up  the 
hill  with  a  heart  in  :t  arter  that  ! " 

Ben  stooped  as  if  about  to  take  the  cold  form  of  his  mis- 
tress in  his  arms,  but  as  his  hands  touched  her  garments 
some  inward  restraint  fell  upon  him,  and  he  drew  back, 
looking  wistfully  frcm  Harrington  to  the  prostrate  woman 
he  dared  not  raise  fioni  the  earth  even  in  her  extremity. 

As  be  stooped  a  strange  light  had  flashed  into  James 
Harrington's  eyes,  tnd  he  made  a  motion  as  if  to  push  the 
poor  boatman  aside. 

Ben  did  not  see  fhis,  as  we  have  said,  his  retreat  was  a 
voluntary  impulse.  He  saw  James  Harrington  take  up  the 


Mabel's  Mistake.  69 

form  he  dared  not  touch,  with  a  feeling  of  deep  humiliation, 
submitting  to  the  abrupt  and  stern  mariner  which  accom- 
panied the  action,  as  a  well  deserved  rebuke  for  his  bold- 
ness. 

A  small  ravine  separated  the  point  of  land  occupied  by 
the  little  party  from  the  burning  cedar,  and  towards  this 
Harrington  bore  his  silent  burden.  His  cheeks  grew 
deadly  pale  from  a  feeling  deeper  than  fear  or  cold,  and  his 
eyes  flashed  back  the  gleams  of  light  that  reached  him 
from  the  burning  tree  with  a  wild  splendor  that  no  mortal 
man  had  ever  seen  in  them  before. 

He  held  Mabel  closer  and  closer  to  his  heart,  which  rose 
and  heaved  beneath  its  burden  ;  his  breath  came  in  broken 
volumes  from  his  chest,  and  an  insane  belief  seized  upon 
him,  that  though  dead  he  could  arouse  her  from  that  icy 
sleep,  by  forcing  the  breath  of  his  own  abundant  existence 
through  her  lips. 

Fired  by  this  wild  thought  he  bowed  his  head  nearer  and 
nearer  to  the  pallid  face  upon  his  shoulder.  But  the  voice 
of  Ben  Benson  brought  him  back  to  sanity  again. 

"  Be  careful,  sir  !  The  hollow  is  full  of  ruts  and  broken 
stones  !  She  is  too  heavy — You  stagger  and  reel  like  a 
craft  that  has  lost  her  helm  !  Steady,  sir — steady,  or  she'll 
be  hurt ! " 

James  Harrington  stopped  suddenly,  as  if  a  war  trumpet 
had  checked  his  progress.  His  face  changed  in  the  burn- 
ing light.  His  arms  relaxed  around  the  form  they  had 
clasped  so  firmly  a  moment  before. 

"  Take  her  ! "  he  said,  with  an  imploring  look.  "  Take 
her !  I  am  very  weak.  You  see  how  I  falter — Take  her, 
Benson.  She  is  not  heavy,  it  is  only  I  that  have  lost  all 
strength ! " 

Ben  reached  forth  his  brawny  arms,  as  we  sometimes  see 
a  great  school-boy  receive  a  baby  sister,  and  folded  them 
reverently  around  the  form  which  Harrington  relinquished 
with  a  sigh  of  unutterable  humiliation. 


70  Mabels   Mistake. 

Ben  moved  forward  with  a  quick  firm  tread,  fallowing 
Harrington,  who  went  before  trampling  down  the  under- 
growth, and  putting  aside  the  drooping  branches  from  his 
path. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE    BUBNIXG    CEDAR. 

THE  cedar  tree  stood  on  a  slope  of  the  bank,  and  had 
cast  its  fiery  rain  over  the  herbage  and  brushwood  for 
yards  around,  leaving  them  crisped  and  dry. 

Harrington  gathered  up  a  quantity  of  the  seared  grass, 
and  heaped  a  dry  couch  upon  which  Ben  laid  his  charge 
within  the  genial  heat  that  came  from  the  cedar  tree. 
Then  they  gathered  up  all  the  combustible  matter  within 
reach,  and  began  to  kindle  a  fire  so  near  to  the  place  where 
she  lay  that  its  heat  must  help  to  drive  back  the  chill  of 
death  if  there  was  a  spark  of  life  yet  vital  in  her  bosom. 

Harrington  knelt  beside  Mabel.  He  chafed  her  hands 
between  his  own,  and  wrung  the  water  from  her  long  hair. 
But  it  all  seemed  in  vain.  No  color  came  to  those  blue 
fingers.  The  purple  tinge  still  lay  like  the  shadow  of  vio- 
lets under  the  closed  eyes, — no  motion  of  the  chest — no 
stir  of  the  limbs.  At  last  drops  of  water  came  oozing 
through  the  white  lips,  and  a  scarcely  perceptible  shiver 
ran  through  the  limbs. 

"  It  is  life  ! "  said  Harrington,  lifting  his  radiant  face  to 
the  boatman. 

"  Are  you  sartin  it  ain't  the  wind  a  stirring  her  gown  ?  " 
asked  Ben,  trembling  between  anxiety  and  delight. 

"  No,  no — her  chest  heaves, — she  struggles.  It  is  life, 
precious,  holy  life  ;  God  has  given  her  back  to  us,  Ben  !  " 


MabeCs   Mistake.  71 

"I  don't  know — I  ain't  quite  sartin  yet,  if  she'd  only 
open  her  eyes,  or  lift  her  hand!"  exclaimed  the  poor  fel- 
low. 

Here  a  faint  groan  broke  from  the  ohject  of  his  solici- 
tude, and  she  began  to  struggle  upon  the  ground. 

"  Go,"  said  Harrington,  "  search  out  the  light  we  saw — 
she  will  need  rest  and  shelter  more  than  anything  now." 

"  I  will,  in  course  I  will — only  let  me  be  sartin  she's  com- 
ing to." 

The  good  fellow  knelt  down  by  Mabel  as  he  spoke,  and 
lifting  her  hand  in  his,  laid  it  to  his  rough  cheek. 

"  It's  alive — it  moves  like  a  drenched  bird  put  back  in 
its  nest — I'll  go  now,  Mister  James,  but  d'ye  see  I  felt  like 
thanking  the  great  Admiral  up  aloft  there,  and  didn't  want 
no  mistake  about  it." 

"Yes,  we  may  well  thank  God  ;  she  lives,"  said  Harring- 
ton, looking  down  upon  Mabel  with  tears  in  his  eyes. 

"Then  I  do  thank  God,  soul  and  body,  I  thanks  him," 
answered  Ben,  throwing  his  clasped  hands  aloft,  "  and  if  I 
was  commander  of  the  stoutest  man-of-war  as  ever  floated, 
I'd  thank  him  all  the  same." 

With  these  words  Ben  disappeared  in  the  undergrowth 
and  proceeded  in  search  of  help. 

Admonished  by  the  throes  and  struggles  which  pro- 
claimed a  painful  return  of  life,  Harrington  lifted  Mabel 
to  a  sitting  posture  and  supported  her  there.  His  heart 
was  wrung  by  every  spasm  of  anguish  that  swept  over  her; 
yet  at  each  one,  he  sent  up  a  brief  thanksgiving,  for  it  was 
a  proof  of  returning  consciousness.  Still  she  looked  very 
deathly,  and  the  sighs  that  broke  through  her  pale  lips 
seemed  like  an  echo  of  some  struggling  pang  within. 

"  Mabel,"  said  Harrington,  catching  his  breath  as  the 
name  escaped  his  lips,  "  Mabel,  do  you  understand  ? — are 
you  better,  Mabel  ?  " 

The  name  once  spoken  it  seemed  as  if  he  could  not 
repeat  it  often  enough,  it  fell  so  like  music  upon  his  soul. 


72  Mabel's  Mistake. 

She  struggled  faintly — a  thrill  ran  through  her  frame, 
and  both  lips  and  eyelids  began  to  quiver. 

"  Who  calls  me  ?  "  she  said,  in  a  whisper.  "  Who  calls 
and  where  am  I?" 

Her  eyes  were  open  now,  and  the  refulgence  falling 
around  her  from  the  burning  cedar,  seemed  like  the  glory 
of  heaven.  In  that  light  she  saw  only  James  Harrington 
bending  over  her.  A  smile  bright  and  pure,  as  if  she  had 
been  in  truth  an  angel,  stole  over  her  face. 

"  Yes,"  she  whispered  with  a  sigh  of  ineffable  happiness, 
"he  may  call  me  Mabel  here." 

He  could  not  distinguish  her  words,  but  knew  from  the 
light  upon  her  face,  that  she  was  very  happy.  His  own 
features  grew  luminous. 

"  Mabel,  have  you  ceased  to  suffer?"  he  said. 

Her  eyes  were  closed  in  gentle  weariness  now,  but  the 
smile  came  fresh  upon  her  features,  and  she  murmured 
dreamily : 

"There  is  no  suffering  here — nothing  but  heaven  and 
our  two  selves." 

Oh,  James  Harrington,  be  careful  now !  You  have 
heard  those  soft  words — you  have  drank  in  the  glory  of  that 
smile.  In  all  your  life  what  temptation  has  equalled  this  ? 

For  one  delirious  moment  the  strong  man  gave  himself 
up  to  the  joy  of  those  words:  for  one  moment  his  hands 
were  uplifted  in  thanksgiving — then  they  were  clasped  and 
fell  heavily  to  the  earth,  and  a  flood  of  bitter,  bitter  self- 
reproach  flowed  silently  from  his  heart.  Mabel  moved  like 
a  child  that  had  been  lulled  to  rest  by  the  music  of  a  dear 
voice.  She  thirsted  for  the  sound  again. 

"  Did  not  some  one  call  me  Mabel  ?  "  she  asked. 

Harrington  was  firm  now,  and  he  answered  calmly : 

"  Yes,  Mrs.  Harrington,  it  was  I." 

"  Mrs.  Harrington,"  muttered  Mabel  in  a  troubled  tone, 
"how  came  that  name  here  ?  It  is  of  earth,  earthy." 


Mabel's   Mistake.  .73 

"  We  are  all  of  earth,"  answered  James,  strong  in  self 
command.  "  You  have  been  ill,  Mrs.  Harrington,  drenched 
through,  and  almost  drowned — but,  thank  God,  your  life  is 
saved." 

"  My  life  is  saved,  and  am  I  yet  of  earth  ?  Then  what 
is  this  light  so  heavenly,  and  yet  so  false  ! " 

The  storm  which  overwhelmed  your  boat  struck  this 
light.  It  is  from  a  tree  smitten  with. fire." 

"  And  you  ? "  questioned  Mabel,  but  very  mournfully. 
"  You  are  General  Harrington's  guest,  and  I  am  his  wife  ?  " 

"  Even  so,  dear  lady  ! " 

Mabel  turned  her  head  and  tears  stole  softly  from  beneath 
her  closed  lashes.  How  could  she  reconcile  herself  to  life 
again  ?  To  be  thus  torn  back  from  a  sweet  delusion,  was 
more  painful  than  all  the  pangs  she  had  suffered. 

They  were  silent  now.  For  one  moment  they  had  met, 
soul  to  soul,  but  the  old  barriers  were  fast  springing  up 
between  them,  barriers  that  made  the  hearts  of  both  heavy 
as  death,  yet  neither  would  have  lifted  a  hand  to  tear  them 
away. 

Mabel  at  last  quietly  wiped  the  tears  from  her  eyes  and 
sat  up.  She  still  shivered  and  her  face  was  pale,  but  she 
smiled  yet,  only  the  smile  was  so  touchingly  sad. 

"  I  must  have  been  quite  gone, — why  did  you  bring  me 
back  ?  "  she  said. 

"  Why  did  we  bring  you  back,"  repeated  Harrington 
with  a  sudden  outburst  of  passion,  "  why  did  we  bring  you 
back ! "  He  checked  himself  and  went  on  more  calmly. 
"It  is  the  duty  of  every  one  to  save  life,  Mrs.  Harrington, 
and  to  receive  it  gratefully  when,  by  God's  mercy,  it  is 
saved." 

"  I  know,  I  know,"  she  answered,  attempting  to  gather 
up  the  tresses  of  her  hair,  "  I  shall  be  grateful  for  this  gift 
of  life  to-morrow ;  but  now — indeed  I  am,  very  thankful 
that  you  saved  me." 


74  Mabefs  Mistake. 

"  It  was  Ben  more  than  myself — but  for  him  you  would 
have  been  lost,"  answered  Harrington,  rejecting  her  sweet 
gratitude  with  stoicism.  "  He  followed  you  in  his  boa*" 
through  all  the  storm,  and-  was  nearly  lost  with  you  !  " 

"  Poor  Ben ! "  she  said,  "  faithful  always,  I  had  not 
thought  of  him,  though  he  saved  my  life." 

Harrington  had  claimed  all  her  gratitude  for  Ben  with 
resolute  self-restraint ;  but  when  she  acknowledged  it  so 
kindly,  he  could  not  help  feeling  somewhat  wronged.  But 
against  such  impulses  he  had  armed  himself,  and  directly 
cast  them  aside. 

"  How  strange  everything  looks,"  she  said,  "  are  those 
stars  breaking  through  between  the  clouds  ?  They  seem 
very  pale  and  sad,  after  the  light  that  dazzled  me  when  I 
first  awoke  :  then  there  is  a  mournful  sound  coming  through 
the  trees — the  waters,  I  suppose.  After  all,  this  earth  does 
seem  very  dark  and  sorrowful,  to  which  you  have  brought 
me  back." 

"  You  are  ill  yet — you  suffer,  perhaps  ?  " 

"  No,  I  am  only  sad  !  " 

And  so  was  he.  Her  mournful  voice  —  the  reluctance 
with  which  she  took  back  the  burden  of  life,  pained  him, 
yet  he  could  offer  no  adequate  consolation.  Commonplaces 
are  a  mockery  with  persons  who  know  that  there  are 
thoughts  in  the  depths  of  the  soul,  which  must  not  be 
spoken,  though  they  color  every  other  thought.  Silence  or 
subterfuge  is  the  only  refuge  for  those  who  dare  not  speak 
frankly. 

Thus  without  a  word,  for  they  were  too  honest  for  pre- 
tence, the  two  remained  together  listening  to  the  low  sob  of 
the  winds  and  to  the  rain  that  dripped  from  the  leaves,  long 
after  it  had  ceased  to  fall  from  the  clouds.  This  hush  of 
the  storm  was  oppressive  more  to  Harrington  than  the  lady. 
She  was  languid  and  dreamy  lying  upon  her  couch  of  dry 
leaves,  very  feeble  and  weeping  quietly  without  a  sob,  like  a 


MabeVs   Mistake.  75 

helpless  child  who  has  no  language  but  tears  and  laughter. 
In  this  entire  prostration  of  the  nervous  system,  she  forgot 
— if  she  had  ever  been  conscious  of  the  words  that  filled 
him  with  a  tumult  of  painful  feelings. 

He  moved  a  little  from  the  place  where  Mabel  lay,  and 
burying  his  face  in  both  hands,  remained  perfectly  still, 
lifting  a  solemn  petition  heavenward  from  his  silent  heart, 
not  that  she  might  live — not  even  of  thanksgiving — but  a 
subdued  cry  for  strength  rose  up  with  the  might  of  his 
whole  being,  a  cry  so  ardent  and  sincere,  that  its  very  in- 
tensity kept  him  still. 


CHAPTER  X. 

HOME     IN     SAFETY. 

WHILE  this  was  going  on  in  that  struggling  heart  a  black 
shadow  had  crept  close  to  the  man,  and  Agnes  Barker 
stood  between  him  and  Mabel,  leaving  her  in  the  firelight, 
but  shutting  it  out  from  him. 

He  did  not  feel  the  darkness,  and  the  girl  stood  by  him 
more  than  a  minute  before  he  looked  up. 

Mabel  moved  with  a  faint  expression  of  pain,  as  if  she 
felt  the  shadow  of  some  evil  thing  falling  athwart  the 
light ;  but  she  did  not  unclose  her  eyes,  and  Agnes,  who 
had  been  for  some  time  within  earshot,  spoke  before  her 
presence  was  recognized. 

"  Is  there  anything  I  can  do  ?  "  she  said  in  her  usual  low 
tones. 

James  lifted  his  head,  bowed  almost  to  the  dust  in  the 
humility  of  his  prayer,  and  saw  this  strange  girl  standing 
before  him,  her  red  garments  glowing  in  the  firelight,  her 
arms  folded  on  her  bosom,  and  her  eyes  glittering  beneath 


76  Mabel's   Mistake. 

their  long  lashes,  like  half-buried  diamonds.  She  seemed 
so  like  an  embodiment  of  the  evil  passions  he  had  prayed 
against,  that  he  sat  mute  and  pale,  gazing  upon  her. 

"  You  look  deathly.  You  are  hurt,"  she  said,  stooping 
toward  him  with  a  gesture  at  once  subtle  and  fascinating. 
"  I  saw  her  boat  engulphed — I  saw  you  plunge  into  the 
stream — the  storm  was  raging  through  the  woods,  but  1 
came  through  it  all." 

Still  Harrington  remained  silent,  gazing  fixedly  upon 
her,  so  astonished  by  her  presence  that  he  did  not  heed  her 
words. 

"  The  lady  is  not  dead,"  continued  the  girl,  looking  over 
her  shoulders,  while  her  garment  grew  dusky,  and  lurid  in 
the  waning  light.  "  I  heard  her  speaking,  but  a  few  mo- 
ments ago." 

James  Harrington  arose  to  his  feet  with  grave  dignity. 

"  You  have  come  in  good  time,  Miss  Barker,"  he  said. 
"  If  your  cloak  is  dry  throw  it  around  her ;  even  in  this 
warmth  she  shivers." 

Agnes  looked  back  as  she  drew  off  her  short  cloak,  and 
held  the  garment  irresolutely  in  her  hand. 

"  But  you  are  wet  and  cold,  too,  wrap  the  cloak  around 
yourself.  What  life  can  be  more  precious  ! " 

She  said  this  in  a  low  voice,  and  moved  towards  him. 
He  put  the  garment  aside,  and  passing  Agnes,  stooped  over 
Mrs.  Harrington,  addressing  her  in  a  grave,  gentle  voice. 

"  Are  you  stronger,  now,  dear  lady  ?  " 

"  I  think  so  !  "  answered  Mabel,  moving  uneasily,  "  but 
some  one  else  is  here — I  heard  speaking  !  " 

"  It  was  me,"  answered  Agnes,  spreading  her  cloak 
softly  over  Mabel ;  "  I  saw  your  peril,  dear  Mrs.  Harring- 
ton, and  came  to  offer  help.  My  old  nurse  lives  upon  the 
hill — if  you  can  walk  so  far,  she  will  be  glad  to  shelter 
you." 

Mabel   attempted  to   sit   up.     The   presence   of  Agnes 


Mabel's   Mistake.  77 

Barker  excited  her  with  new  strength.  She  pushed  aside 
the  cloak  with  a  feeling  of  repulsion,  and  looked  pleadingly 
on  Harrington. 

"  You  will  not  take  me  up  there  ! "  she  said.  "  It  is  a 
dreary,  dreary  place  !  " 

"  But  it  is  the  only  shelter  at  hand,"  urged  Harrington. 

"  I  know ;  but  that  woman — don't  place  me,  helpless  as  I 
am,  with  that  strange  woman  !  " 

"You  will  find  a  capital  nurse  there  ;  I  left  her  preparing 
a  warm  bed  ! "  whispered  Agnes,  stooping  toward  Harring- 
ton, till  her  breath  floated  across  his  face ;  "  the  walk  is  a 
little  toilsome,  but  short ;  between  us,  I  think  she  could 
manage  it." 

Mabel  heard  the  whisper,  and  sinking  back  on  her  bed 
of  leaves,  pleaded  against  tbe  measure. 

"  I  cannot  go  up  there,"  she  said  with  some  resolution, 
"  I  could  not  rest  with  that  woman  near." 

"  Of  whom  does  she  speak  ?  "  inquired  Harrington. 

"  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  guess ;  the  fright  has  unset- 
tled her  mind,  I  fear,"  answered  Agnes. 

"No,  I  am  sane  enough,"  murmured  Mrs.  Harrington, 
"but  I  have  been  warned.  No  human  voice  ever  s]>oke 
more  plainly  than  that  lone  night  bird,  as  I  went  up  the 
hollow — he  knew  that  it  was  unholy  ground  I  trod  upon  !  " 

"  But  you  are  not  strong  enough  to  reach  home,"  per- 
sisted the  girl  Agnes,  "the  river  is  yet  rough — the  wind 
unsettled." 

"  She  is  well  enough  to  go  just  where  she's  a  mind  to,  I 
reckon,"  said  Ben  Benson,  crashing  through  the  under- 
growth, "  and  I'm  here  to  help  her  do  it." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Mabel,  gently,  "  I  wish  to  go  home ! '' 

Ben  turned  towards  Harrington,  and,  without  regard  to 
the  presence  of  Agnes,  spoke  his  mind. 

"  I  don't  like  the  cut  of  things  up  yonder,  somehow. 
The  woman  looks  like  a  female  Judas  Iscariot.  She's  eager 


78  Mabels  Mistake. 

but  not  kind.  The  madam  is  better  off  here  with  the  old 
tree  to  warm  her." 

Agnes  kept  her  eyes  steadily  on  Ben  as  he  spoke ;  when 
he  had  finished,  she  laughed. 

"  You  are  complimentary  to  my  mammy ! "  she  said,  "  I 
will  tell  her  your  opinion.  But  have  your  own  way.  We 
have  offered  hospitality  to  the  lady  in  good  faith — if  she 
prefers  other  shelter,  I  dare  say  we  shall  find  the  means  of 
reconciling  ourselves  to  her  wishes  and  to  your  very  flatter- 
ing opinion,  Mr.  Boatman." 

Ben  threw  back  his  right  foot  and  made  the  young  lady 
a  nautical  bow,  accompanied  with  an  overwhelming  flourish 
of  the  hand. 

"  Delighted  to  hear  as  you  and  the  old  woman  is  agreea- 
ble. Now  if  you'd  just  as  lieves,  we'll  try  and  get  madam 
down  to  the  boat ;  I've  just  bailed  it  out.  The  liver  may 
be  a  trifle  roughish  yet,  but  there's  no  danger." 

Ben  directed  this  portion  of  his  speech  to  Mr.  James 
Harrington,  who  stood  by  in  silence,  without  appearing  to 
regard  the  conversation. 

He  now  stepped  forward,  and  stooping  over  Mabel,  in- 
quired if  she  was  willing,  and  felt  strong  enough  to  attempt 
a  return  home  by  water. 

"Yes,"  answered  Mabel,  sitting  up  and  striving  to 
arrange  her  dress,  "  I  am  stronger  now — take  me  home  by 
all  means.  General  Harrington  will  be  terrified  by  my 
absence,  and  Lina — dear,  dear  Lina,  how  grateful  she  will 
be  to  have  her  mother  back  again !  " 

"  And  your  son  ! "  said  Harrington  gently. 

"  Oh,  if  I  did  not  mention  him,  he  is  always  here  ! "  an- 
swered Mabel,  pressing  a  hand  to  her  heart,  and  looking 
upward  with  a  face  beaming  with  vivid  tenderness ;  "  I 
never  knew  how  much  of  love  was  in  my  soul  before." 

How  unconscious  the  noble  woman  was  of  her  dreamy 
wanderings  of  speech — how  pure  and  trustful  was  the  look 


Mabefs   Mistake.  79 

which  she  fixed  upon  Harrington's  face  as  she  said  this.  A 
holy  thankfulness  pervaded  her  whole  being ;  from  the 
black  deep  she  seemed  to  have  gathered  a  world  of  beauti- 
ful strength. 

"  Come,"  she  said,  struggling  to  her  feet  and  smiling  in 
gentle  derision  of  her  weakness,  as  she  felt  her  head  begin 
to  reel,  "  I  am  not  afraid  to  try  the  boat  again,  if  some  one 
will  help  me." 

Harrington  did  not  move,  and  after  a  perplexed  look 
from  one  to  the  other,  Ben  stooped  his  shoulder  that  she 
might  lean  upon  it. 

When  they  reached  the  boat,  Mabel  was  almost  ex- 
hausted, but  she  found  strength  to  think  of  Agnes,  who 
had  silently  followed  them. 

"  Will  you  not  get  in  ?  "  she  said,  faintly,  "  I  should  be 
glad  to  have  you  with  me." 

"No,"  answered  the  girl,  in  the  sweetest  of  all  accents, 
"  nurse  would  be  terrified  to  death.  I  will  return  home." 

"  Not  alone,"  said  James  Harrington,  "  that  must  not 
be." 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Harrington,  I  am  used  to  being  alone.  It  is 
the  fate  of  a  poor  girl  like  me  ! " 

There  was  something  plaintive  in  her  voice,  and  she 
drooped  meekly  forward,  as  if  imploring  pardon  for  having 
said  so  much. 

Harrington  remained  a  moment  thoughtful ;  at  last  he 
addressed  Ben. 

"  Proceed  up  the  river,"  he  said,  "  slowly  it  must  be,  for 
the  stream  is  against  you.  I  will  see  that  Miss  Barker 
reaches  home  safely,  and  overtake  you." 

Ben  looked  up  in  astonishment.  "  Why,  Mister  James, 
she's  allers  alone  in  these  ere  woods.  No  blackbird  knows 
the  bush  better,  what's  the  use  ?  " 

Mabel  said  nothing,  but  her  eyes  turned  upon  Harring- 
ton with  a  wistfal  ^nd  surprised  look. 
5 


80  Mabets   Mistake. 

"  No  matter,  she  must  not  go  through  the  woods  alone," 
answered  Harrington.  "Keep  snug  to  the  shore,  and  be 
ready  to  answer  my  hail ;  I  will  overtake  you  in  a  few  min- 
utes." 

Harrington  moved  away  as  he  uttered  these  words,  fol- 
lowing Agnes  into  the  woods. 

Mabel  looked  after  them  with  sadness  in  her  eyes ;  then, 
bowing  her  face  softly  upon  her  folded  arms,  she  remained 
motionless,  save  that  her  lips  moved,  and  broken  whispers 
which  the  angels  of  Heaven  gathered  and  laid  before  the 
throne  of  God,  stole  through  them.  They  had  advanced 
some  distance  up  the  shore,  when  Harrington  hailed  the 
boat ;  Ben  did  not  pretend  to  hear  him,  but  Mabel,  lifting 
her  face,  now  full  of  gentleness,  said,  with  a  smile — 

"  Stop,  Ben,  he  is  calling  for  you  !  " 

"  Let  him  call  and  be "  Ben  caught  the  profane  word 

in  his  teeth,  and  swallowing  it  with  a  great  struggle,  com- 
menced again — 

"Let  him  call  till  he's  tired,  why  didn't  he  stay  with 
that  old  Judas  and  the  young  witch.  To  think  of  going 
off  with  sich  like,  and  madame  just  a  dying — halloo  away, 
Ben  Benson  '11  sink  afore  he  hears  you  !  " 

Ben  muttered  this  between  his  teeth,  and  worked  away 
at  the  oars,  doggedly  resolved  to  continue  his  fit  of  deaf- 
ness, and  give  his  master  a  midnight  walk  through  the 
dripping  and  rough  woods,  but  Mabel  addressed  him  again 
with  a  quiet  firmness  which  he  could  not  find  the  heart  to 
resist. 

"  Put  on  shore,  Ben,  and  take  your  master  in." 

"  I  begin  to  thing  he's  took  us  all  in  a  little  too  often  !  " 
muttered  Ben ;  but  he  turned  reluctantly  for  the  shore,  and 
Harrington,  without  speaking,  took  his  place  in  the  boat. 

The  moon  had  broken  through  the  drift-clouds  left  by 
the  storm,  before  the  little  party  reached  the  cove  below 
General  Harrington's  dwelling.  The  front  of  the  house 
was  entirely  dark,  but  lights  wandered  to  and  fro  along 


Mabel's  MistcJce.  81 

the  hollow,  and  anxious  voices  weie  heard  calling  to  each 
other  along  the  bank. 

"  They're  out  searching  for  us  ! "  said  Ben,  dropping  his 
oars  and  making  an  impromptu  speaking-trumpet  of  his 
hand.  Directly  his  voice  rang  alonj  the  shore. 

"Ben  Benson,  and  passengers  f:om  down  stream.  All 
well ! " 

A  shout  answered  from  the  sh«re,  and  directly  eager 
voices  and  rapid  footsteps  rushed  toward  the  little  cove ; 
first  came  Ralph,  wild  with  joy,  lesping  downward  like  a 
panther. 

"  Is  she  safe  !  is  she  here  !  "  he  cried,  pausing  with  dread 
upon  the  bank. 

«  Ealph,  Ealph  !  " 

He  knew  the  voice.  He  sprang  into  the  boat,  and  fell 
upon  his  knees  before  his  mother. 

"Thank  God,  oh  mother,  mother  !" 

He  could  say  no  more.  Unspeakable  joy  choked  his 
utterance.  He  kissed  her  hands,  ier  face,  and  her  wet 
robes. 

"  Mother,  mother,  tell  me  what  has  happened  !  You  are 
cold — you  tremble — all  your  clothes  are  wet — your  bonnet 
is  off — that  dear  pale  face,  oh  mother,  you  have  been  in 
danger,  and  I  not  there  !  " 

His  love  gave  her  strength.  She  ;ook  his  head  between 
her  trembling  hands,  and  kissed  hin  again  and  again  on 
the  forehead. 

"Oh,  yes,  my  Ealph,  I  have  been  very  near  death — but 
with  all  this  to  live  for,  God  would  not  let  me  die." 

"  No,  no,  he  could  not  make  us  so  vretched.  Oh,  mother, 
what  would  home  be  without  you  ?  It  is  only  an  hour  or 
two  since  we  missed  you ;  but  those  hours  were  full  of  des- 
olation. Tell  me — tell  me  how  it  wa& ! " 

"  They  did  it — they  will  tell  you — I  was  in  the  depths  of 
the  rii  er,  but  they  drew  me  out." 


82  Model's   Mistake. 

"They,  my  brother  James,  and  that  blessed  old  rogue, 
Ben  Benson,  did  they  save  you,  mother,  while  I — I,  your 
only  son — was  dreaming  at  home  ?  Oh,  James,  must  I 
thank  you  for  my  mother,  with  all  the  rest ! " 

"  Thank  God,  Ralph,  for  He  has  saved  your  mother  !  " 

His  voice  was  impressive  and  solemn.  It  seemed  like  a 
rebuke  to  the  ardent  gratitude  of  the  young  man. 

"I  do  thank  God,  brother  James,"  he  answered  rever- 
ently, uncovering  his  lead.  "  But,  to  be  grateful  to  God'si 
creatures  is,  so  far,  giving  thanks  to  Him  !  How  often 
have  you  told  me  this  ?" 

"  You  are  right,"  answered  James  gently,  "  but  see,  your 
mother  needs  assistance ! " 

Mabel  had  risen,  and  was  making  ready  to  step  from  the 
boat.  Ralph  turned,  fling  one  arm  around  her. 

"  Lean  on  me,  dear  mother.  Lay  your  head  on  my 
shoulder ;  don't  mind  tie  weight  5  I  can  carry  you,  if  need- 
ful ! " 

Mabel  submitted  herself  to  the  affectionate  guidance  of 
her  son,  with  a  sigh  of  pleasure,  and  proceeded  towards  the 
house. 


CHAPTER  XL 

GENERAL  HARRINGTON  IS  SHOCKED. 

THE  rigid  ideas  of  female  propriety  which  General 
Harrington  enforced  in  his  family,  had  been  greatly  out- 
raged that  day.  This  well-regulated  home  was  thrown  into 
disorder  by  the  unaccountable  absence  of  his  wife  and  Lina 
from  the  tea-table.  Pie  had  followed  his  wife  to  the  bank 
of  the  river,  and  witl  a  feeling  of  quiet  indignation  had 
watched  her  rowing  her  own  boat  down  the  stream  like  a 
wild  gi'psy.  The  gathering  storm  and  the  danger  she  was 


Mabets   Mistake.  83 

in  scarcely  impressed  him,  but  the  mpropriety  of  the  thing 
outraged  all  his  fastidiousness. 

Still  he  was  glad  to  have  her  iway  for  the  brief  time 
that  he  was  in  the  hills,  and  but  for  her  long  absence  this 
e.soapad*  on  the  river  might  have  b?en  forgiven. 

A  solitary  evening,  added  to  ttase  causes  of  discontent, 
had  greatly  ruffled  the  general's  eruanimity  of  temper,  and 
when  his  wife  appeared  deep  in  the  night,  her  clothes  in 
disorder,  her  hair  disarranged,  and  her  face  pale  as  death, 
he  felt  her  return  in  this  state  as  a  positive  insult  to  his 
house. 

"  Madam,"  he  said,  with  that  qmet  irony  which  was  the 
gift  of  his  cold  nature,  "  it  is  ratier  late,  and  your  toilet 
somewhat  disarranged  for  the  preseice  of  gentlemen  ;  allow 
me  to  lead  you  to  a  mirror."  It  wis  not  necessary  ;  Mabel 
had  seen  herself  reflected  in  the  g-eat  oval  glass  opposite, 
and  shrunk  back,  shocked  both  by  her  appearance  and  the 
cold  insult  to  which  it  had  given  rise. 

James  Harrington  remained  sibnt,  but  his  eyes  grew 
bright  with  indignation,  while  Ralpli  flung  one  arm  around 
his  mother's  waist,  and  turned  his  bright  face  upon  the 
general. 

"  My  mother's  life  has  been  in  peril — she  comes  back  to 
us,  father,  almost  cold  from  the  deal." 

"  Indeed  ! "  said  the  general  witl  a  look  of  cold  surprise. 
"  Surely,  madam,  you  did  not  renain  out  in  the  storm  ? 
You  have  not  been  on  the  river  all  this  time  ?" 

"  I  have  been  in  the  depths  o:'  the  river,  I  believe ! " 
answered  Mabel.  "  The  boat  was  ipset — I  was  dashed  be- 
neath the  wheels  of  a  steamer,  but  for — "  She  hesitated, 
and  a  red  flush  shot  over  her  face;  the  noble  woman  re- 
covered herself  in  an  instant,  "bit  for  James,  and  Ben 
Benson." 

An  answering  flush  came  to  tie  general's  cheek.  Ho 
darted  a  quick  glance  at  James. 


84  McbeFs   Mistake. 


"  And  how  came  Mr. 


Harrington  so  near  you,  madam  ? 


They  told  me  you  had  gone  upon  the  river  alone." 

"And  so  she  did,"  Answered  James,  stepping  forward. 
"  I  saw  her  put  out  from  the  shore,  apparently  unconscious 
of  the  coming  storin,  an!  followed  the  course  of  her  boat." 

"  Why  did  you  not  wffn  her,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  did,  more  than  oyce  at  the  top  of  my  voice,  but  the 
wind  was  against  me  !  "/ 

"  And  where  did  all  t}is  happen  ?  "  inquired  the  general, 
more  interested  than  ha  had  been. 

"  Near  a  ravine,  sorte  distance  down  the  stream.  You 
will  not  perhaps  be  aUe  to  recognize  the  place,  sir,"  an- 
swered Mabel,  "  but  it  is  nearly  opposite  the  small  house 
in  which  Miss  Barker  resides  with  her  mother." 

The  general  did  not  ^;art,  but  a  strange  expression  crept 
over  his  features,  as  if  ae  were  becoming  more  interested 
and  less  pleased. 

"  May  I  ask  you  whit  took  you  in  that  direction,  mad- 
am?" 

"  Nothing  better  thana  caprice,  I  fear,"  answered  Mabel ; 
"  at  first  I  went  out  for  exercise  and  solitude,  then  remem- 
bering Miss  Barker,  I  jut  on  shore." 

"  Surely  you  did  no^  go  to  that  house  !  "  cried  the  gen- 
eral, interrupting  her  alpaost  for  the  first  time  in  his  life. 

"  Yes,  I  went,"  answ«red  Mabel  with  simplicity. 

"  Indeed  !  and  what  did  you  find — whom  did  you  see  ?  " 

"I  saw  a  dusky  woiian,  rude  and  insolent,  who  called 
herself  Agnes  Barker's  lurse — nothing  more." 

"  So  you  found  an  insolent  woman." 

"  A  very  disagreeable  one,  at  least,  General  Harrington, 
but  I  am  faint  and  ill — permit  me  to  answer  all  farther 
questions  to-morrow ! " 

General  Harrington's  manner  imperceptibly  changed;  he 
no  longer  enforced  ab^ipt  questions  upon  the  exhausted 


lady,  but  with  a  show  o 


and  drew  her  arm  throigh  his. 


gallant  attention,  stepped  forward 


Mabel's   Mistake.  85 

"  You  can  go  to  your  rooms,  young  men,"  he  said,  "  I 
will  attend  Mrs.  Harrington." 

"  Shall  I  have  Lina  called,  mother  ?  "  said  Ralph,  follow- 
ing his  parents,  "  she  did  not  know  of  your  absence,  and  I 
would  not  terrify  her  !  " 

Before  Mabel  could  speak,  the  general  answered  for 
her — 

"  No,  why  should  Lina  be  disturbed  ?  Send  Mrs.  Har- 
rington's maid,"  and  with  a  gentle  wave  of  the  hand  which 
forbade  all  farther  conversation,  the  general  led  his  wife 
from  the  room. 


CHAPTEE  XII. 

LOVE   DREAMS. 

had  slept  sweetly  through  all  this  turmoil  of  the 
elements  and  of  human  passions.  Beautifully  as  a  dove 
she  lay  in  her  pretty  white  bed,  with  its  snowy  curtains 
brooding  over  her  like  summer  clouds  above  opening  roses. 
A  night-lamp  of  pale  alabaster  shed  its  soft  moonlight 
through  the  room,  and  when  bursts  of  thunder  shook  the 
heavens,  and  the  lightning  flashed  and  gleamed  around  the 
single  Gothic  casement  of  her  chamber,  it  only  gave  to  this 
pearly  light  a  golden  tinge,  and  made  Lina  smile  more 
dreamily  in  her  happy  slumber. 

She  was  abroad  upon  the  hills  again,  and  in  sleep  lived 
over  the  bright  hours  that  never  return,  save  in  dreams,  to 
any  human  soul. 

She  had  left  Ralph  in  the  hall,  and  hoarding  up  her  new 
found  happiness  she  stole  away  to  her  room,  kindled  the 
alabaster  lamp  that  no  broader  light  should  look  upon  her 
blushes,  and  sat  down  lost  in  a  trance  of  thought.  She 
veiled  her  eves  even  from  the  pure  light  around  her,  and 


86  Mabets  Mistake. 

started  covered  with  blushes,  when  the  happiness  flooding 
her  soul  broke  in  murmurs  to  her  lips. 

She  longed  to  speak  over  his  name,  to  whisper  the  words 
•nith  which  he  had  blessed  her,  and  ponder  over  and  over 
the  tone  of  those  words.  She  was  bewildered  and  aston- 
ished by  her  own  happiness.  Now  she  longed  to  steal  into 
Mrs.  Harrington's  presence,  and  tell  her  of  the  great  joy 
that  had  fallen  upon  her  life,  but  the  first  motion  to  that 
effect  brought  the  blushes  to  her  cheeks,  and  made  her 
cover  them  with  both  hands,  like  a  child  who  strives  to  hide 
the  shame  of  some  innocent  joy. 

At  last  she  began  to  undress,  softly  and  bashfully,  as  if 
she  had  found  some  new  value  in  her  own  beauty.  Her 
hands  lingered  fondly  among  the  tresses  of  her  hair,  and 
gathering  them  up  beneath  her  pretty  Valenciennes  cap, 
she  smiled  to  see  its  gossamer  shadows  fall  upon  her  fore- 
head, giving  the  whole  face  a  Madonna-like  purity. 

With  a  gentle  sigh,  she  pillowed  herself  upon  the  couch, 
and  looked  up  through  the  cloud  of  snowy  lace  that  over- 
shadowed it  with  a  wistful  smile,  as  if  she  expected  to  see 
stars  break  through,  revealing  new  glimpses  of  the  Heaven 
alread}r  dawning  in  her  young  life. 

Thus  cradled  in  her  own  happiness,  like  a  lily  with  its 
cup  full  of  dew,  she  laid  that  beautiful  head  upon  her  arm, 
and  slept.  The  wind  had  no  power  to  arouse  her,  though 
it  shook  the  old  house  in  all  its  gables.  The  thunder  rolled 
through  her  dreams,  like  the  reverberating  strains  of  a 
celestial  harp,  and  when  the  lightning  flamed  through  her 
room,  it  only  kindled  the  volume  of  lace  over  her  head  into 
a  cloud  of  golden  tissue,  under  which  she  slept  like  a  cherub 
in  one  of  Murillo's  pictures. 

Thus  Lina  spent  the  night.  In  the  morning  she  arose 
at  the  usual  hour,  and  stole  forth  to  walk.  The  household 
were  astir  in  the  kitchen,  b\it  she  saw  no  member  of  the 
family,  and  went  out  unconscious  of  Mrs.  Harrington's 


Mabets   Mistake.  87 

accident.  When  she  came  back,  a  shy  terror  seized  upon 
her  at  the  thought  of  meeting  Ralph  again  in  the  presence 
of  his  relatives  ;  and,  evading  the  breakfast-room,  she  stole 
to  her  own  chamber.  But  loneliness  at  length  became 
oppressive,  •and,  with  a  breathless  effort  at  composure,  she 
sought  a  little  boudoir  or  private  sitting-room,  which  opened 
from  Mrs.  Harrington's  bed-chamber,  and  where  that  lady 
usually  spent  some  hours  of  the  morning.  Lina  unclosed 
the  door  softly  and  went  in,  trembling  with  a  world  of  gen- 
tle emotions  as  she  approached  Ralph's  mother. 

Mrs.  Harrington  was  seated  in  a  large  easy-chair.  A 
morning  shawl  of  pale  blue  cashmere  flowed  over  an  under- 
dress  of  French  embroidery.  The  tint  of  these  garments 
did  not  relieve  the  pallor  of  her  cheek  which  would  have 
been  painful,  but  for  the  crimson  glow  reflected  upon  it 
from  the  brocaded  cushions  of  the  chair.  Her  foot  rested 
upon  an  embroidered  cushion ;  and  she  was  languidly  sip- 
ping chocolate  from  a  cup  of  embossed  parian  which  she 
had  scarcely  strength  to  hold.  A  beautiful  Italian  grey- 
hound stood  close  by  the  cushion,  regarding  her  with  looks 
of  eager  interrogation  that  seemed  almost  human. 

Lina  glided  softly  behind  the  easy-chair,  and  remained  a 
moment  gathering  courage  to  speak.  At  last,  she  bent 
softly  forward : 

"  Mother ! " 

Mrs.  Harrington  looked  up  kindly,  but  with  a  touch  of 
seriousness.  She  had  been  wounded  by  Lina's  seeming  in- 
attention. 

Before  another  word  could  be  spoken,  the  door  opened 
noiselessly,  and  Agnes  Barker  hesitated  upon  the  threshold, 
regarding  the  two  with  a  dark  glance.  She  stood  a 
moment  with  the  latch  in  her  hand,  as  if  about  to  withdraw 
again,  but  seemed  to  change  her  mind,  and  stepped  boldly 
into  the  room. 

Mabel  was  looking  at  her  adopted  daughter  and  the  door 


88  MabeFs   Mistake. 

opened  so  noiselessly  that  neither  of  them  had  observed  it. 
Thus  Agnes  Barker  remained  some  minutes  in  the  room, 
listening  to  their  conversation  with  breathless  attention. 

"  Mother,"  repeated  Lina,  and  her  face  flushed  like  a 
wild  rose,  "I  have  something  to  say;  don't  look  at  me, 
please,  it  makes  me  afraid." 

"  Afraid,  my  child  ! "  said  Mabel,  smiling,  "  afraid  of 
your  mother !  Shame,  Lina !  " 

"  But  I  can  only  remember  that  you  are  his  mother  now, 
dear  Mrs.  Harrington  ! " 

"  Dear  Mrs.  Harrington !  Why  child  what  has  come 
over  you  ?  " 

"  Something — something  so  strange  and  sweet  that  it 
makes  the  very  heart  tremble  in  my  bosom,  dear  mamma, 
and  yet " 

"  And  yet  you  are  afraid ! " 

"  Yes,  mamma ;  you  have  thought  so  highly  of  him — he 
is  so  much  wiser  and  nobler  than  I  am — he — " 

Mabel  drew  a  quick  breath,  and  turned  her  eyes  almost 
wildly  on  the  face  of  the  young  girl. 

"  Of  whom  do  you  speak,  Lina  ?  " 

Lina  was  terrified  by  her  look,  and  faltered,  "of — of 
Mr.  Harrington,  dear  mamma." 

The  Parian  cup  in  Mabel's  hand  shook  like  a  lily  in  the 
wind.  She  sat  it  slowly  down,  and  suppressing  a  thrill  of 
pain  that  ran  through  her  like  the  creep  of  a  serpent, 
remained  for  a  moment  bereft  of  all  speech.  It  was  the 
first  time  that  Lina  had  ever  called  Ralph,  Mr.  Harrington, 
and  the  mistake  drove  the  very  blood  from  the  heart  of  her 
benefactress. 

"  Mr.  Harrington  ?  and  what  of  him  ?  "  inquired  the 
pallid  woman,  clasping  her  tremulous  hands  and  striving 
to  hold  them  still  in  her  lap.  "  What  of  Mr.  Harrington, 
Lina  ?  "  Her  voice  was  low  and  hoarse ;  the  very  atmos- 
phere around  her  froze  poor  Lina  into  silence. 


Mabels   Mistake.  89 

"Nothing,  indeed  nothing  at  all!"  she  gasped  at  length. 
"  I  was  so  terrified,  I  don't  know  what  I  wished  to  say.  It 
took  me  so  by  surprise,  and — and — " 

Mabel's  face  lighted.  She  remembered  her  adventure 
the  night  before,  and  again  mistook  poor  Lina. 

"  Oh,  yes,  my  own  sweet  child,  I  forgot  that  they  kept 
my  peril  from  you  all  night.  Mr.  Harrington  did,  indeed, 
save  me." 

"  Save  you,  mamma?  how  ?  from  what  ?  " 

"I  see  they  have  not  told  you  how  near  death  I  was. 
Oh,  Lina !  it  was  terrible  when  that  wheel  plunged  me  into 
the  black  depths.  In  a  single  minute,  I  thought  of  every- 
thing— of  my  home,  of  Ralph,  of  you,  Lina." 

The  young  girl  did  not  answer.  She  stood  aghast  with 
surprise  and  terror. 

"  I  thought,"  said  Mabel,  still  excited  and  nervous,  "  I 
thought  of  everything  I  had  ever  done  in  m}-  life — the 
time,  the  place,  the  objects  with  which  each  act  had  been 
surrounded,  flashed  before  me  like  a  living  panorama." 

"Mother,  how  did  this  happen?"  faltered  Lina,  trem- 
bling from  head  to  foot. 

Mabel  lifted  her  face,  and  saw  how  pale  and  troubled  the 
young  girl  was. 

"  Sit  down,  darling,  here  at  my  feet,  and  I  will  tell  you 
all.  Move,  Fair-Star,  and  let  your  mistress  sit  down." 

The  beautiful  Italian  greyhound  that  had  been  looking 
so  wistfully  at  his  mistress  all  the  morning,  as  if  he  knew 
all  the  risk  she  had  run,  drew  back  from  his  place  near  the 
embroidered  stool,  and  allowed  Lina  to  seat  herself  there- 
on. Then  he  stole  back  to  his  position,  contrasting  the 
snowy  folds  of  her  morning-dress  with  the  pretty  scarlet 
housings,  edged  with  black  velvet,  which  he  always  wore  in 
chilly  weather. 

"  Why,  how  you  tremble  !  how  white  you  are,  Lina !  and 
I  was  but  just  thinking  you  neglectful." 


90  Mabel's  Mistake. 

"  Neglectful — oh,  mother ! " 

"  Well,  well,  it  was  all  a  mistake,  child ;  but  what  kept 
you  from  me  so  long  ?  " 

"  I  went  out  to  walk." 

"  What,  after  hearing  of " 

"  Oh  !  mamma,  how  can  you  think  so  ?  I  have  seen  no 
one  this  morning." 

"  Then  you  knew  nothing  of  this  accident  ?  "  questioned 
Mabel,  thoughtfully. 

"  Indeed,  indeed  I  did  not.  What  could  have  kept  me 
from  your  side,  if  I  had  known  ?  Oh,  it  was  terrible ! 
What  must  have  become  of  us  all  had  you  never  returned 
— of  me,  of  him  ?  " 

Lina  could  hardly  speak,  the  whole  thing  had  come  upon 
her  so  suddenly,  but  sat  wistfully  questioning  her  mother 
with  those  tender  blue  eyes. 

Mabel  told  her  all,  even  to  the  false  illumination  of  the 
cedar  tree,  and  the  appearance  of  Agnes  Barker,  like  an 
evil  shadow  in  the  firelight.  All  ?  no,  no !  The  facts  she 
related  faithfully,  but  feelings — those  haunting  spirits  that 
fluttered  in  her  heart  even  yet — those  Mabel  Harrington 
could  not  have  spoken  aloud  even  to  her  God. 

When  Mabel  had  told  all,  Lina's  face,  that  had  been 
growing  paler  and  paler  as  the  recital  progressed,  flushed 
with  sudden  thanksgiving ;  her  eyes  filled  with  great  bright 
drops,  such  as  we  see  flash  downward  when  rain  and  sun- 
shine strive  together ;  and,  creeping  up  to  her  mother's 
bosom,  she  began  to  sob  and  murmur  thanksgivings,  break- 
ing them  up  with  soft  tender  kisses,  that  went  to  Mabel's 
heart. 

"  You  are  glad  to  have  me  back  again,  my  Lina  ?  " 

"  Glad,  mamma,  glad  ?  Oh,  if  I  only  knew  how  to  thank 
God,  as  he  should  be  thanked  !  " 

"  I  think  you  love  me,  Lina,"  answered  Mabel,  and  her 
face  was  luminous  with  that  warm,  tender  light,  which 


Mabel's   Mistake.  91 

made  her  whole  countenance  beautiful,  at  times,  beyond  any 
mere  symmetry  of  features  that  ever  existed.  "  I  think 
you  love  me,  Lina." 

The  young  girl  did  not  answer  but  crept  closer  to  Mrs. 
Harrington's  bosom.  A  deep  breath  came  in  a  tremor  from 
her  bosom,  as  odor  shakes  the  lily-bell  it  escapes  from. 

Thus,  for  a  little  time,  the  two  remained  in  each  other's 
embrace,  blissful  and  silent.  All  this  time  Agnes  Barker 
looked  on,  with  a  dawning  sneer  upon  her  lip. 

At  length,  Mabel  lifted  Lina's  face  from  her  bosom,  and 
kissing  the  white  forehead,  bade  her  sit  down  and  partake 
of  the  breakfast  that  stood  upon  a  little  table  at  her  side. 
She  filled  a  cup  with  chocolate  from  the  small  silver  kettle, 
and  pressed  it  upon  the  young  girl. 

"  My  heart  is  too  full — I  cannot  taste  a  drop,"  said  Lina. 

"  Nonsense,  child,"  answered  Mabel,  and,  with  a  laugh 
and  a  bright  look,  she  hummed — 

"  Lips,  though  blooming,  must  still  be  fed, 
For  not  even  love  cau  live  on  flowers." 

Why  did  the  rosy  blood  leap  into  that  young  face  at  the 
word  "  Love  ?  "  Why  did  those  eyelids  droop  so  bashfully, 
and  the  little  hand  begin  to  shake  under  the  snowy  cup  it 
would  gladly  have  put  down  ?  Lina  remembered  now  that 
her  secret  was  still  untold,  while  Mabel,  startled  by  her 
blushes,  thought  of  the  first  words  that  had  marked  their 
interview,  and  grew  timid  as  one  does,  who  has  suffered 
and  dreads  a  renewal  of  pain. 

Thus  these  two  persons,  loving  each  other  so  deeply, 
shrunk  apart,  and  were  afraid  to  speak.  Poor  Lina,  with 
her  exquisite  intuition,  which  was  a  remarkable  gift,  drooped 
bashfully  forward,  the  roses  dying  on  her  cheek  beneath  the 
frightened  glance  which  Mabel  fixed  upon  them,  and  her 
eyelids  drooping  their  dark  lashes  downward,  as  the  leaves 
of  a  japonica  cast  shadows. 


92  Mabets   Mistake. 

At  last  Mabel  spoke  low  and  huskily,  for,  like  all  brave 
persons,  she  only  recoiled  from  pain  for  the  moment.  Her 
heart  always  rose  to  meet  its  distresses  at  once,  and 
steadily. 

"  Tell  me,  Lina,  what  is  it  ?  You  have  not  heard  of  my 
escape,  and  yet  something  disturbed  you." 

"  Yes,  mamma ! " 

"  And,  what  is  it  ?  " 

Lina  struggled  a  moment,  lifted  her  eyes  full  of  wistful 
love,  and,  dropping  her  head  in  Mabel's  lap,  burst  into 
tears. 

"  You  love  some  one  ?  "  said  Mabel,  with  an  instinctive 
recoil ;  "  is  that  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes ;  oh,  forgive  us  ! "  burst  out  from  among 
Lina's  sobs. 

"  Forgive  us — and  who  is  the  other  ?  "  There  was  a 
tremble  in  Mabel's  voice — a  premonitory  shiver  of  the 
limbs.  Oh,  how  she  dreaded  the  answer  that  would  come. 

"  You  know — you  must  guess,"  pleaded  poor  Lina. 

«  No,  who  is  he  ?  " 

"  Mrs. — Mrs.  Harrington,  oh,  don't  send  me  away  !  " 

There  was  no  danger  that  Mabel  Harrington  would  send 
the  young  girl  away.  Her  nerves  were  yet  unstrung,  her 
strength  all  gone.  A  look  of  anguish,  keen  but  tender, 
swept  over  her  face.  Her  hand  fell  slowly  on  the  bowed 
head  of  poor  Lina.  She  struggled  to  sit  upright  and  speak 
words  of  encouragement,  but  the  brave  true  heart  sunk 
back,  repulsed  in  its  goodness  by  the  enfeebled  body,  and 
she  fell  back  in  her  chair,  white  and  still,  like  some  proud 
flower  torn  up  by  the  roots. 

She  was  so  still,  that  Lina  ventured  to  look  up.  The 
deathly  white  of  that  face  terrified  her,  and  with  a  cry  she 
sprang  to  her  feet,  looking  wildly  around  for  help. 


MabeTs   Mistake.  93 

CHAPTEE  XIII. 

THE    BROKEN    CONFESSION. 

AGNES  BARKER  came  coldly  into  the  room,  answering 
Lina's  cry. 

"  Mrs.  Harrington  has  only  fainted,"  she  said,  closing 
the  door  which  she  still  held  slightly  ajar,  as  if  that 
moment  entering. 

"  There  is  aromatic  vinegar  on  the  console  yonder  —  do 
bring  it,  while  I  open  the  window." 

Lina  ran  for  the  crystal  flask  pointed  out,  and  began  to 
sprinkle  Mabel's  face,  sobbing  and  moaning  all  the  time. 
Agnes  opened  the  sash  door,  that  led  to  a  stone  balcony 
full  of  flowers,  and  their  breath  came  floating  into  the 
room. 

"  Shall  I  run  ?  shall  I  call  help  ?  "  questioned  Lina,  let- 
ting Mrs.  Harrington's  head  fall  back  upon  the  crimson 
cushions  of  her  chair,  "  I  —  I  am  sure  Ralph  would  bring 
her  to." 

"  Be  qiiiet,"  answered  Agnes  Barker,  dragging  the  easy- 
chair  towards  the  window,  where  the  fragrant  wind  blew 
clear  and  cold  into  that  deathly  face. 

"  If  you  call  any  one,  let  it  be  Mr.  Harrington." 

"The  General?" 

"No,  Mr.  James  Harrington." 

"  I  will  go,"  answered  Lina,  eagerly. 

But  the  name  of  James  Harrington,  even  upon  those  lips, 
had  reached  the  sleeping  sense  of  Mabel.  She  made  a 
faint  struggle.  Her  lips  quivered  with  an  ineffectual 
attempt  to  speak.  This  brought  Lina  back. 

"  Shall  I  call  help,  dear  mamma  ?     Shall  I  call  help  ?  " 


The  monosyllable  was   uttered   so  faintly,  that  nothing 


94  Mabefs   Mistake. 

but  a  loving  ear,  like  Lina's,  would  have  heard  it.  The 
warm-hearted  girl  stooped  and  kissed  Mabel  softly  upon  the 
forehead,  thanking  God  silently  in  her  heart. 

Mabel  shrunk  from  that  pure  kiss,  turned  her  head 
abruptly  on  the  cushion,  and  tears  stole  through  her  eye- 
lashes, leaving  them  dark  and  moist. 

"Madam,  is  there  anything  I  can  do?" 

As  she  spoke  Agnes  bent  over  the  helpless  woman,  and 
shed  her  glances  over  that  pale  face,  as  the  upas  tree 
weeps  poison. 

The  unaccountable  dislike  that  Mabel  felt  for  this  girl, 
gave  her  strength,  and  she  sat  up,  stung  by  the  reflection 
that  her  weakness  had  so  objectionable  a  witness. 

"  You  here,  Miss  Barker  ! "  she  said  with  cold  dignity  ; 
"  I  have  always  held  this  room  sacred  from  all,  but  my  own 
family." 

"  I  come  by  invitation,"  answered  Agnes,  meekly. 
^Yesterday  afternoon  you  left  a  message  with  my  nurse, 
desiring  that  I  should  seek  you  before  entering  upon  my 
duties  again.  This  command  brought  me  here,  not  a  wish 
to  intrude." 

Mrs.  Harrington  arose,  walked  feebly  back  to  the  little 
breakfast-table,  and  taking  up  a  small  teapot  of  frosted 
silver,  poured  some  strong  tea  into  a  cup  which  she  drank 
off  clear.  Then  moving  back  her  chair,  she  sat  down, 
evidently  struggling  for  composure. 

"  I  remember,"  she  said  very  quietly,  for  Mabel  had  con- 
trolled herself,  "  I  remember  leaving  this  message  with  a 
woman  who  called  you  her  mistress." 

Agnes  smiled.  "  Oh,  yes,  our  Southern  nurses  always 
claim  us  in  some  form.  '  My  mammy,'  I  think  she  must 
have  called  herself  that.  Every  child  has  its  slave  mammy 
at  the  South." 

"  Then  you  are  from  the  South,  Miss  Barker?  " 

"  Did  not  General  Harrington  tell  you  this,  madam  ?  " 


Mabel's   Mistake.  95 

"  I  do  not  recollect  it,  if  he  did,"  answered  Mabel,  search- 
ing the  girl's  face  with  her  clear  eyes ;  "  in  truth,  Miss 
Barker,  I  made  so  few  inquiries  when  you  entered  my 
family,  that  your  very  presence  in  it  is  almost  a  mystery  to 
me.  General  Harrington  told  me  you  were  well  educated, 
and  an  orphan.  I  found  that  he  was  correct  in  the  latter 
point,  but  was  somewhat  astonished  yesterday  afternoon  to 
hear  the  woman  whom  I  met,  claim  you  as  her  mistress." 

"  You  do  not  understand  our  Southern  ways,  Mrs.  Har- 
rington, or  this  would  not  appear  so  singular.  With  us 
the  tie  between  a  slave  nurse  and  her  child,  is  never 
broken." 

"  Then  this  woman  is  a  slave  ?  "  questioned  Mabel. 

"  She  has  been,  madam,  but  though  I  had  nothing  else  in 
the  world,  when  I  became  of  age,  she  was  made  a  free  wo- 
man." 

"But  she  is  not  very  black — at  least,  in  the  dim  light,  I 
saw  but  faint  traces  of  it." 

Again  Agnes  smiled  a  soft  unpleasant  smile,  that  one 
could  put  no  faith  in  : 

"  Perhaps  it  was  that  which  rendered  her  so  valuable, 
but  black  or  white,  the  woman  you  saw  was  a  born  slave." 

"And  how  does  she  support  herself  in  that  solitary 
house  ?  " 

"  She  has  a  garden,  and  some  poultry.  The  woods  around 
afford  plenty  of  dry  fuel,  and  my  own  humble  labors  supply 
the  rest." 

Mabel  became  thoughtful  and  ceased  to  ask  questions. 
The  governess  stood  quietly  waiting.  All  her  answers  had 
been  straightforward  and  given  unhesitatingly,  but  they  did 
not  bring  confidence  or  conviction  with  them.  Still  Mrs. 
Harrington  was  silenced  for  the  time,  and  remained  in  deep 
thought. 

"  May  I  retire,  madam  ? "    said  the  governess  at  last, 
drawing  slowly  toward  the  4oor. 
(J 


96  Mabel's   Mistake. 

Mabel  started  from  her  reverie. 

"  Not  yet.  I  would  know  more  of  you,  of  your  parents, 
and  previous  life.  Where  we  intrust  those  most  dear  to  us, 
there  should  be  a  perfect  knowledge  and  profound  confi- 
dence." 

"  Of  myself  I  have  nothing  to  say,"  answered  Agnes, 
turning  coldly  white,  for  she  was  a  girl  who  seldom  blushed. 
All  her  emotions  broke  out  in  a  chilly  pallor.  "  Of  my 
parents  all  that  can  be  said  is  told,  when  I  repeat  that  they 
left  me  with  nothing  but  an  honorable  name,  and  this  old 
woman  in  the  wide  world." 

Her  voice  broke  a  little  here,  and  this  struck  Mabel  with 
a  shade  of  compassion. 

"  But  how  did  you  chance  to  come  North  ?  " 

"  I  entered  a  Louisianian  family  as  governess,  directly 
after  my  parents'  death.  They  brought  me  North  in  the 
summer,  recommended  me  to  General  Harrington,  and  I  re- 
mained." 

Nothing  could  be  more  simple  or  frankly  spoken.  Agnes, 
as  I  have  said,  was  pale  ;  but  for  this,  she  might  have 
seemed  unconscious  that  all  this  questioning  was  mingled 
with  distrust. 

Mabel  had  nothing  more  to  say.  The  feelings  with 
which  she  had  commenced  this  conversation,  were  not  in 
the  slightest  degree  removed,  and  yet  they  seemed  utterly 
without  foundation.  She  waved  her  hand  uneasily,  mur- 
muring, "  you  may  go,"  and  the  governess  went  out  softly 
as  she  had  entered. 

"  Can  I  stay  with  you,  mamma  ?  "  pleaded  Lina,  creep- 
ing timidly  xip  to  Mabel's  chair. 

"I  am  weary,"  answered  Mrs.  Harrington,  closing  her 
eyes,  and  turning  aside  her  head.  "  Let  me  rest  awhile  !  " 

"  But  you  will  kiss  me  before  I  go  ?  "  said  the  gentle 
girl. 

"  Yes,  child,"  and  Mabel  kissed  that  white  forehead  with 
her  quivering  lips. 


Mabel's  Mistake.  97 

"Is  it  with  your  whole  heart,  mamma?  " 

Mabel  turned  away  her  face,  that  Lina  might  not  see 
h:>w  it  was  convulsed.  So  the  young  girl  went  out  from 
the  boudoir,  grieved  to  the  verge  of  tears. 

After  they  were  gone,  Mabel  grew  strong  again  and 
began  to  pace  to  and  fro  in  the  boudoir,  as  if  striving  to 
outstrip  the  pain  of  thinking.  The  accident  had  left  hei 
nerves  greatly  shattered,  and  it  was  difficult  to  concentrate 
the  high  moral  courage  that  formed  the  glory  of  her 
woman's  nature.  Thus  she  walked  to  and  fro  in  a  sort  of 
vague,  dreamy  passion,  her  thoughts  all  in  a  tumult,  her 
very  soul  up  in  arms  against  the  new  struggle  forced  upon 
her.  Sometimes  Mabel  wrung  her  hand  with  a  sudden 
gush  of  sorrow.  Her  eyes  would  fill  and  her  lips  quiver, 
and  she  looked  around  upon  the  sumptuous  objects  in  her 
room,  as  if  seeking  out  something  among  all  the  elegance 
that  filled  it,  which  might  have  power  to  comfort  her. 

There  was  no  bitter  or  bad  passion  in  the  heart  of  Mabel 
Harrington.  She  had  only  laid  down  her  burden  for  a 
moment,  and  finding  its  weight  doubled,  shrank  from 
taking  it  up  again.  But  she  had  a  brave,  strong  heart, 
that  after  a  little  would  leap  forward,  like  a  checked  race- 
horse to  its  duty.  This  might  not  have  been,  had  she 
always  relied  upon  her  own  strength,  which  so  far  as 
human  power  can  go,  was  to  be  confided  in.  But  Mabel 
had  a  firmer  and  holier  reliance,  which  was  sure  in  the  end 
to  subdue  all  these  storms  of  trouble,  and  prepare  her  for 
the  battle  which  was  to  be  fought  over  and  over  again 
before  she  found  rest. 

After  a  time,  Mabel  Harrington  stole  gently  back  to  her 
easj'-chair,  and  kneeling  down,  buried  her  face  in  the  cush- 
ions. Fair-Star,  which  had  been  following  her  up  and 
down,  wondering  at  her  distress,  and  looking  in  that  agita- 
ted face  with  his  intelligent  eyes,  came  and  lay  softly  down 
with  his  head  resting  on  the  folds  of  her  shawl,  where  it 


98  Mabets  Mistake. 

swept  over  the  floor.  He  knew  with  his  gentle  instinct, 
that  she  was  quieter  now,  and  with  a  contented  whine  lay 
down  to  guard  her  as  she  prayed. 

While  she  was  upon  her  knees,  a  rustling  among  the 
flowers  in  the  balcony  made  Fair-Star  rise  suddenty  to  his 
fore  feet,  and  cast  a  vigilant  glance  that  way.  He  saw  a 
hand  cautiously  outstretched,  as  if  to  put  back  the  trails  of 
a  passion  flower,  and  then  a  dark  figure  stole  along  behind 
the  screen  of  blossoms,  and  crouching  down,  peered 
cautiously  through  the  leaves  into  the  room.  Fair-Star 
dropped  his  head;  he  had  recognized  the  intruder,  and,  not 
having  any  very  definite  ideas  of  etiquette,  concluded  that 
the  governess  had  a  right  to  crouch  like  a  thief  behind  that 
screen  of  flowers,  if  her  fancy  led  that  way.  For  a  little 
time  her  presence  kept  the  pretty  hound  restless,  but  it  was 
not  long  before  Agnes  had  so  draped  the  passion-flower  that 
it  entirely  concealed  her  person,  and  then  Fair-Star  betook 
himself  entirely  to  his  mistress.  A  soul-struggle  does  not 
always  break  forth  in  words,  or  exhaust  itself  in  cries. 
The  heart  has  a  still  small  voice,  which  God  recognizes  the 
more  readily,  because  it  is  like  his  own. 

Mabel  came  with  no  rush  of  stormy  passion  before  the 
Lord.  The  very  force  of  her  anguish  was  laid  aside  as  she 
bowed  her  proud  head,  and  meekly  besought  strength  to 
suffer  and  be  still — to  struggle  for  the  right.  Now  and 
then  her  clasped  hands  were  uplifted,  once  the  spy  on  the 
balcony  caught  a  glimpse  of  her  face.  It  was  luminous 
and  lovely,  spite  of  the  anguish  to  be  read  there. 

At  last  she  arose,  and  seating  herself,  remained  for  some 
time  in  thoughtful  silence,  her  arms  folded  on  her  bosom, 
her  eyes  full  of  troubled  lijjit,  looking  afar  off,  as  if  she 
were  following  with  her  eyes  the  angels  that  had  been 
gathering  over  her  as  she  knelt. 

After  awhile,  Mabel  arose,  and  walking  across  the  room 
more  composedly,  unlocked  a  little  escritoir  of  ebony,  from 


Mabels   Mistake.  99 

which  she  drew  forth  a  book  bound  in  white  vellum,  and 
embossed  with  gold.  Seating  herself  at  the  escritoir,  she 
began  to  search  among  the  trinkets  attached  to  her  chate- 
laine for  a  small  key,  which  she  inserted  in  a  little  heart 
beset  with  rubies,  which  locked  the  golden  clasps  of  the 
book. 

All  this  time  Agnes  Barker  was  watching  each  movement 
of  her  benefactress  with  the  eyes  of  a  serpent.  She  saw 
the  tiny  heart  fly  open,  and  the  manuscript  pages  of  the 
book  exposed.  She  saw  Mrs.  Harrington  turn  these  pages, 
now  slowly,  now  hurriedly — reading  a  line  here,  a  sentence 
there,  and  more  than  once  two  or  three  pages  together. 
Sometimes  her  fine  eyes  were  full  of  tears.  Sometimes 
they  were  reverently  uplifted  to  Heaven,  as  if  seeking 
strength  or  comfort  there;  but  more  frequently  she  pur- 
sued those  pages  with  a  sad  thoughtful  ness,  full  of  dignity. 

After  she  had  been  reading,  perhaps  an  hour,  she  dipped 
a  pen  into  the  standish  on  her  escritoir,  and  began  to  write 
slowly,  as  if  weighing  every  word  as  it  dropped  from  her 
pen.  Then  she  closed  the  book,  locked  it  carefully,  and 
securing  it  in  the  escritoir  again,  walked  slowly  toward  her 
bed-chamber,  which  opened  from  the  boudoir,  evidently 
worn  out  and  ready  to  drop  down  with  exhaustion.  A 
slight  disturbance  in  the  passion-vine  betrayed  that  Agnes 
Barker  had  changed  her  position,  and  now  commanded  a 
view  through  the  open  door  of  Mabel's  chamber.  She  saw 
the  poor  lady  move  wearily  toward  a  bed,  which  stood  like  a 
snowdrift  in  the  midst  of  the  room,  and  pulling  the  cloud 
of  white  lace,  which  enveloped  it.  aside,  with  her  trembling 
hands,  fell  wearily  down  upon  the  pillows,  and  dropped 
away  into  tranquil  slumber,  like  a  child  that  had  played 
itself  to  sleep  in  a  daisy  field. 

Mabel  had  asked  for  strength,  and  God  gave  her  its  first 
tranquilizing  element — rest. 

Agnes  stood  motionless  till  the  lace  curtains  above  the 


100  MabeFs   Mistake. 

sleeper  closed  again,  leaving  nothing  visible  upon  the  snowy 
white  beneath  but  the  calm,  sleeping  face  of  Mabel  Har- 
rington, gleaming  as  it  were  through  a  cloud,  and  the  folds 
of  her  azure  shawl,  that  lay  around  her  like  fragments  of 
the  blue  sky.  Mrs.  Harrington  had  evidently  sunk  into  a 
heavy  slumber,  but  Agnes  kept  her  concealment  some  time 
after  this,  for  Fair-Star  was  still  vigilant,  and  she  shrunk 
from  his  glances  as  if  they  had  been  human. 

But  the  dog  crept  into  his  mistress's  chamber  at  last, 
and  then  Agnes  Barker  stole  from  her  fragrant  hiding- 
place,  and  entered  the  boudoir  again. 

The  escritoir  was  closed,  but  Agnes  saw  with  joy  that 
the  key  still  remained  in  its  lock,  and  that  Mrs.  Harring- 
ton had  left  her  watch  upon  a  marble  console  close  by. 
Stealing  across  the  room,  and  holding  her  wicked  breath, 
as  if  she  felt  that  it  would  poison  the  air  of  that  tranquil 
room,  she  crept  to  the  escritoir,  turned  the  key,  and 
stealthily  drawing  forth  the  vellum  book,  dropped  on  one 
knee,  while  she  reached  forth  her  hand,  drawing  the  watch 
softly  to  her  lap. 

There  was  a  quiver  in  her  hands  as  she  unlocked  that 
little  golden  heart,  forcing  it  asunder  with  a  jerk,  for  the 
dog  came  back  just  then,  and  stood  regarding  her  with  his 
clear,  honest  eyes.  She  strove  to  evade  him,  and  gleams  of 
angry  shame  stole  across  her  cheeks  as  she  laid  down  the 
watch,  and  stole,  like  the  thief  that  she  was,  through  the 
sash  door,  along  the  pretty  labyrinth  of  flowers,  and  into 
another  door  that  opened  upon  one  end  of  the  balcony. 

And  Mabel  slept  on,  while  this  ruthless  girl  was  tearing 
the  secret  from  her  life. 


Mabel's   Mistake.  101 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
RALPH'S  LOVE  CHASE. 

IT  was  an  uncomfortable  breakfast-table  to  which  the 
Harringtons  sat  down  that  morning.  The  lady  of  the 
house  and  Lina,  its  morning-star,  were  both  absent,  and 
the  servant,  who  stood  at  the  coffee-urn  ready  to  distribute 
its  contents,  was  a  most  unsatisfactory  substitute. 

Their  absence  left  a  gloom  on  everything.  The  very 
morning  seemed  darkened  by  the  want  of  their  smiling 
faces  and  cheerful  garments.  A  breakfast-table  at  which 
no  lady  presides,  is  always  a  desert — and  so  was  this  ;  spite 
of  its  glittering  silver,  its  transparent  china,  and  the  warm 
October  sunshine,  which  penetrated  the  broad  eastern 
window  with  a  thousand  cheerful  flashes,  scarcely  broken 
by  the  gorgeous  tree  boughs,  or  the  climbing  vines  that 
waved  and  clustered  around  it. 

Gen.  Harrington  was  out  of  sorts,  as  your  polished  man 
of  the  world  sometimes  proves  when  his  circle  of  admirers 
is  a  household  one.  The  absence  of  his  wife  was  an  an- 
noyance which,  under  the  circumstances,  he  could  not  well 
resent,  but  that  Lina  should  have  been  so  indolent,  or  so 
forgetful,  he  considered  a  just  cause  of  complaint.  Thus 
in  that  smooth,  ironical  way,  which  usually  expressed  the 
General's  anger,  he  began  a  series  of  complaints,  that  in 
another  might  have  been  considered  grumbling,  but  in  a 
man  of  Gen.  Harrington's  perfect  breeding,  could  have 
been  only  an  expression  of  elegant  displeasure. 

Ralph,  radiant  with  his  new-born  happiness,  and  full  of 
gsuerous  enthusiasm,  strove  to  dissipate  this  gloom  by 
extra  cheerfulness ;  but  this  only  irritated  the  grand  old 
gentleman,  who  stirred  the  cream  in  his  coffee,  and  buttered 
his  delicate  French  rolls  in  dignified  silence,  into  which  his 
displeasure  had  at  last  subsided. 


102  Mabel's  Mistake. 

James  Harrington,  unlike  his  irritable  father,  or  the 
bright  animation  of  his  brother,  was  so  rapt  in  heavy 
thought,  that  he  seemed  unmindful  of  all  that  was  going 
on.  He  had  cast  one  quick,  almost  wild  glance  at  the  head 
of  the  table  as  he  entered,  and  after  that  took  his  seat  like 
one  in  a  dream. 

"  Let  me,"  said  Ralph,  taking  the  second  cup  from  the 
servant,  and  carrying  it  to  the  General,  "  let  me  help  you, 
father." 

"  My  boy,"  said  the  General,  "  when  will  you  learn  to 
comprehend  the  refined  taste  which  I  fear  you  will  never 
emulate  ?  You  ought  to  know,  sir,  that  a  breakfast  with- 
out a  lady  is  an  unnatural  thing  in  society,  calculated  to 
disturb  the  composure  and  injure  the  digestion  of  any  gen- 
tleman. As  Mrs.  Harrington  is  not  able  to  preside,  will  you 
have  the  goodness  to  inform  Miss  Lina  that  her  seat  is 
empty  ?  " 

"  I — I  don't  know  where  Lina  is,  father.  Indeed,  I  have 
been  searching  and  searching  for  her  all  the  morning,"  an- 
swered the  youth  with  a  vivid  blush. 

"  Go  knock  at  her  door.  She  may  be  ill,"  answered  the 
General,  "  and,  in  the  meantime,  inquire  after  Mrs.  Har- 
rington, with  my  compliments." 

Ralph  grew  crimson  to  the  temples.  A  hundred  times 
before,  he  had  summoned  Lina  from  her  slumbers,  but  now 
it  seemed  like  presumption. 

It  was  strange,  but  James  Harrington  had  not  inquired 
after  either  of  the  ladies ;  but  he  looked  up  with  an  eager 
flash  of  the  eyes  when  the  General  gave  his  message ;  and, 
as  Ralph  hesitated,  he  said  in  a  grave  voice — 

"  What  are  you  waiting  for,  Ralph  ?  There  is  something 
strange  in  Lina's  absence." 

'•'  Is  there  ?  Do  you  think  so  ? "  exclaimed  the  excit- 
able boy,  and  the  crimson  came  and  went  in  flashes  over  his 
face.  "  Oh,  brother  James,  do  you  think  so  ?  " 


MabeFs   Mistake.  103 

The  General  lowered  his  cup  to  the  table,  and  began 
tinkling  the  spoon  against  its  side,  softly,  but  in  a  way 
which  bespoke  a  world  of  impatience.  Ralph  understood 
the  signal,  and  disappeared. 

"Upon  my  word,  I'd  rather  be  shot,"  thought  Ralph, 
pausing  before  the  door  he  had  knocked  at  heedlessly  a 
thousand  times  during  his  boyish  life ;  "  I  wonder  what 
she'll  think  of  it,  so  coarse  and  rude  to  present  myself  in 
this  fashion  after  her  first  sweet  sleep.  Dear,  dear  Lina." 

He  reached  forth  his  hand  timidly,  and  with  a  pleasant 
tremble  in  all  the  nerves,  drew  it  back,  attempted  again, 
and  ended  with  one  of  the  faintest  possible  taps  against  the 
black  walnut  panelling. 

No  answer  came.  The  knock  was  repeated,  louder  and 
louder,  still  no  answer.  But  at  last  the  door  was  suddenly 
opened,  and  while  Ralph  stood  in  breathless  expectation,  he 
saw  a  mulatto  chambermaid  before  him,  beating  a  pillow 
with  one  hand,  from  which  two  or  three  feathers  had  broken 
loose,  and  stood  quivering  in  her  braided  wool. 

"  Oh,  it's  you,  is  it,  Master  Ralph  ?  Thought,  mebbe,  it 
was  Miss  Lina  a-coming  back  agin.  Everything  sixes  and 
sevens,  I  can  tell  you,  since  Miss  Mabel  took  sick — now  I 
tell  you." 

"  Can  you  tell  me  where  Miss  Lina  is  ?  " 

"  Don't  know  nothin'  'bout  her,  no  how — cum  in  here  a 
little  while  ago,  and  didn't  speak  a  word  when  I  said  '  Good 
mornin','  as  pleasant  as  could  be — but  jist  turned  her  head 
away  and  went  off,  as  if  I'd  been  the  dirt  under  her  feet." 

With  these  words  the  exasperated  damsel  punched  her 
right  hand  ferociously  into  the  pillow,  as  if  that  had  been 
in  fault,  and  added  half  a  dozen  more  feathers  to  those 
already  encamped  in  her  dingy  tresses. 

Ralph  was  troubled.  What  could  this  mean  ?  Lina 
was  never  ill-tempered.  Something  must  have  grieved 
her. 


104  MabeFs   Mistake. 

"  Tell  me,"  he  said,  addressing  the  indignant  girl,  '•  was 
anything  the  matter?  Did  my  —  did  Miss  Lina  look 
ill  ?  " 

"  Just  as  blooming  as  a  rose,  de  fust  time  I  see  her,  and 
as  white  as  this  pillar  when  she  went  out,  after  I'd  ex- 
pressed myself  regarding  the  ridickelousness  of  her  stuck 
up  ways." 

"  But  where  is  she  now  ?  " 

"  Don't  know.  Shouldn't  wonder  if  she's  wid  de  madam 
— like  as  not." 

Ralph  went  to  his  mother's  boudoir,  and  after  knocking 
in  vain,  softly  opened  the  door.  Fair-Star  came  towards 
him  with  his  serious  eyes  and  velvet  tread,  looking  back 
toward  the  inner  room,  where  Ralph  saw  his  mother  through 
the  lace  curtains,  asleep  and  alone.  He  saw  also  the  shrubs 
in  motion  at  the  window,  and  fancied  thai  a  rustling  sound 
came  from  the  balcony. 

"  Hist,  Lina — sweet  Lina,  it  is  I !  " 

Before  he  reached  the  balcony,  all  was  still  there,  but 
certainly  the  sound  of  a  closing  door  had  reached  him,  and 
the  plants  at  one  end  of  the  balcony  were  vibrating  yet. 

"Ah,  she  is  teasing  me,"  thought  the  boy,  and  his  heart 
rose  with  the  playful  thought.  "  We'll  see  if  Lady  Lina 
escapes  in  this  way." 

He  opened  a  door  leading  from  the  balcony,  and  entered 
a  room  that  had  once  been  occupied  by  General  Harring- 
ton's first  wife.  It  was  a  small  chamber,  rich  in  old- 
fashioned  decorations,  and  gloomy  with  disuse.  The  shut- 
ters were  all  closed,  and  curtains  of  heavy  silk  darkened  the 
windows  entirely.  Still  Ralph  could  see  a  high-post  bed- 
stead and  the  outlines  of  other  objects  equally  ponderous. 
Beyond  this,  he  saw  a  female  figure,  evidently  attempting 
to  hide  itself  behind  the  bed  drapery. 

Ralph  sprang  forward  with  his  hands  extended. 

"Ah,  ha,  my  lady-bird,  with  all  this  fluttering  I  have 
found  you ! " 


Mabel's   Mistake.  105 

There  was  a  quick  rush  behind  the  drapery,  which  shook 
and  swayed,  till  the  dust  fell  from  it  in  showers.  Again 
Ralph  laughed,  "  Ah,  lapwing,  struggle  away,  I  have  you 
safe." 

He  seized  an  armful  of  the  damask  drapery  as  he  spoke, 
and  felt  a  slight  form  struggling  and  trembling  in  his 
embrace.  Instinctively  his  arms  relaxed  their  hold,  and 
with  something  akin  to  terror,  he  whispered  : — 

"  Why,  Lina,  darling,  what  is  this  ?  I  thought  that  we 
loved  each  other.  You  did  not  tremble  so,  when  I  held 
you  in  nay  arms  yesterday  ! " 

A  smothered  cry,  as  of  acute  pain,  broke  from  beneath 
the  drapery,  and  then,  while  Ralph  stood  lost  in  surprise, 
the  curtains  fell  rustling  together,  and  the  faint  sound  of  a 
door  cautiously  closed,  admonished  him  that  he  was  alone. 

"  Lina,  dear  Lina,"  he  called,  reluctant  to  believe  that 
she  had  left  him  so  abruptly. 

There  was  no  answer,  not  even  a  rustle  of  the  damask. 

He  was  alone.  When  satisfied  of  this,  the  young  man 
found  his  way  to  the  light  again.  But  for  the  terror  and 
evident  recoil  of  the  person  who  had  evaded  him,  he  would 
have  considered  the  whole  adventure  a  capital  joke,  in 
which  he  had  been  famously  baffled ;  but  there  was  some- 
thing too  earnest  in  that  struggle  and  cry  for  trifling,  and 
the  remembrance  left  him  with  a  heart-ache. 

When  Ralph  came  back  to  the  breakfast-table,  he  found 
Lina  seated  in  his  mother's  place.  A  faint  color  came  into 
her  cheek  as  she  saw  him,  but  otherwise  she  was  calm  and 
thoughtful.  Nay,  there  was  a  shade  of  sorrow  upon  her 
countenance,  but  nothing  of  the  flush  and  tumult  that 
would  naturally  have  followed  the  encounter  from  which 
she  was  so  fresh. 

Spite  of  himself,  Ralph  was  shocked.  The  delicacy  of  a 
first  passion  had  been  a  little  outraged  by  the  rude  way  in 
which  he  and  Lina  had  just  met,  and  struggled  together, 


106  Mabets   Mistake. 

but  her  composure  wounded  him  still  more  deeply.  "  So 
young,  so  innocent,  and  so  deceptive,"  he  thought,  looking 
at  her  almost  angrily,  "  I  would  not  have  believed  it." 

Lina  was  all  unconscious.  Full  of  her  own  sorrowful  per- 
plexities, she  experienced  none  of  the  bashful  tremors  that 
had  troubled  her  in  anticipation.  That  interview  in  Mrs. 
Harrington's  room  had  chilled  all  the  joy  of  her  young 
love.  Thus  she  sat,  pale  and  cold,  under  the  reproachful 
glances  of  her  lover. 

And  General  Harrington  was  watching  them  with  his 
keen,  worldly  glances.  A  smile  crept  over  his  lips  as  he 
read  those  young  hearts,  a  smile  of  cool  quiet  craft,  which 
no  one  remarked ;  but  there  was  destiny  in  it. 

Altogether  the  breakfast  was  a  gloomy  meal.  There  was 
discord  in  every  heart,  and  a  foreshadowing  of  trouble 
which  no  one  dared  to  speak  about.  For  some  time  after 
his  father  had  left  the  table,  Ralph  sat  moodily  thinking  of 
Lina's  changed  manner.  A  revulsion  came  over  him  as  he 
thought  of  his  singular  encounter  with  her  that  morning, 
and  with  the  quick  anger  of  youth,  he  allowed  her  to  rise 
from  the  table  and  leave  the  room  without  a  smile  or  a 
word. 

James  saw  nothing  that  was  passing.  Self-centred  and 
thoughtful,  he  was  scarcely  conscious  of  their  presence. 

Lina  sought  Mrs.  Harrington's  chamber,  but  found  it 
perfectly  quiet,  and  the  lady  asleep.  Then  she  took  a  straw 
flat  from  the  hall,  and  flinging  a  mantilla  about  her,  went 
out  into  the  grounds,  ready  to  weep  anywhere,  if  she  could 
but  be  alone. 


Mistake.  107 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE    STOLEN    JOUKNAIi. 

RALPH  saw  Lina  pass,  from  the  breakfast-room  window, 
and  his  heart  smote  him.  What  had  she  done,  poor,  dear 
girl,  to  warrant  his  present  feelings  ?  What  evil  spirit 
possessed  him  to  think  ill  of  her,  so  pure,  so  truly  good,  as 
she  was  ? 

Ralph  took  his  hat  and  followed  Lina  through  the 
grounds,  up  to  a  hollow  in  the  hills,  where  a  great  white 
pine  tree  sheltered  a  spring  that  sparkled  out  from  its  roots, 
like  a  gush  of  diamonds.  It  was  a  heavy  day,  not  without 
flashes  of  sunshine,  but  sombre  heaps  of  clouds  drifted  to 
and  fro  across  the  sky,  and  the  wet  earth  was  literally  car- 
peted with  leaves  beaten  from  their  branches  by  the  storm. 
Amid  all  these  dead  leaves,  and  within  the  gloomy  shadow 
of  the  pine,  Lina  sat  alone  weeping.  She  heard  Ralph's 
tread  upon  the  wet  foliage,  and  arose  as  if  to  flee  him,  for 
with  all  her  gentleness,  Lina  was  proud,  and  his  presence 
made  her  ashamed  of  the  tears  that  her  little  hand  had  no 
power  to  dash  entirely  away. 

"  Lina,"  said  Ralph,  holding  out  his  hand,  rejoiced  by 
her  tears,  for  he  longed  to  think  that  she  was  offended  by 
his  rudeness  in  the  dusky  room,  "  Lina,  forgive  me.  I  was 
a  brute  to  wound  you  with  my  rough  ways." 

Lina  turned  away  and  sobbed.  "  It  was  not  that,  Ralph. 
You  were  only  silent,  not  rude.  But  I  have  seen  you£ 
mother  this  morning.  Oh,  Ralph,  she  will  never  consent  to 
it  —  we  must  give  each  other  up." 

"  What  did  she  say  ?  Tell  me,  Lina,  tell  me  !  "  cried 
Ralph,  full  of  emotion. 

"  She  said  nothing,  Ralph,  but  her  face  —  for  a  moment  it 
was  terrible.  Then  she  fainted  !  " 


108  Mabel's   Mistake. 

"  Fainted,  Lina ! — my  mother  ?  " 

"  I  thought  her  dead,  she  looked  so  cold  and  white.  Oh, 
Ralph,  if  my  words  had  killed  her,  what  would  have  become 
of  us  ?  " 

"  Lina,  you  astonish  me.  My  mother  is  not  a  woman  to 
faint  from  displeasure.  It  is  the  effect  of  her  accident. 
You  should  not  have  spoken  to  her  now  !  " 

"I  could  not  help  it.  Indeed,  I  was  so  happy,  and  it 
seemed  right  and  natural  to  tell  her  first  of  all." 

"  But,  what  did  you  tell  her,  darling  ?  " 

Lina  looked  up,  and  regarded  him  gratefully  through  her 
tears. 

"I  don't  know — something  that  displeased  her — that 
almost  killed  her,  I  am  afraid." 

"  Don't  cry,  don't,  Lina — it  will  all  come  out  right." 

"No,  no — I  feel  it — I  know  it — we  must  give  each  other 
up.  The  very  first  hint  almost  killed  her,  and  no  wonder. 
I  did  not  think  of  it  hefore — so  much  kindness  made  me 
forget.  But  what  am  I  ?  Who  am  I,  to  dare  equal  myself 
with  her  son  ?  " 

"  What  are  you,  Lina ! "  said  Ralph,  and  his  fine  face 
glowed  with  generous  feelings.  "  What  are  you !  An 
angel !  the  dearest,  best ! " 

Lina  could  not  help  being  pleased  with  this  enthusiasm, 
but  she  cut  it  short,  placing  her  hand  upon  his  mouth. 

"  It  is  kind  of  you  to  say  this,  but  the  facts — oh  !  these 
facts — are  stubborn  things.  What  am  I  but  a  poor  little 
girl,  who  wandered  from,  no  one  can  say  where,  into  your 
house,  a  miserable  waif,  drifted  by  chance  upon  the  charity 
of  your  parents  !  I  have  no  antecedents  beyond  their  kind- 
ness— no  name,  save  that  which  they  gave  me — no  past,  no 
future.  Is  it  for  me  to  receive  affection  from  their  son — to 
climb  ambitiously  to  the  topmost  branches  of  the  roof-tree 
that  sheltered  my  happiness  and  my  poverty  ?  " 

And  this  was  the  girl  he  had  dared  to  think  coarse  and 


MabePs  Mistake.  100 

forward  in  not  blushing  at  the  liberties  he  had  taken. 
This  fair,  noble  girl,  who,  with  all  her  delicacy,  could  utter 
such  true,  proud  thoughts.  For  the  moment,  Ralph  would 
"have  dropped  on  his  knees,  and  asked  her  pardon  in  the 
dust.  But,  beware,  young  man — he  that  doubts  a  beloved 
object  once,  will  doubt  again.  When  you  could,  even  in 
passing  thought,  judge  that  young  creature  wrongfully,  it 
was  a  break  in  the  chain  of  confidence  that  should  bind 
true  hearts  together.  Ralph  !  Ralph  !  a  jewel  is  lost  from 
the  chain  of  your  young  life,  and  once  rent  asunder  many 
a  diamond  bead  will  drop  away  from  that  torn  link. 

"  Believe  me,"  said  the  youth,  burning  with  enthusiastic 
admiration  of  the  young  creature  before  him,  "  These 
proud  words  slander  the  noblest  heart  that  ever  beat  in  a 
woman's  bosom.  My  mother  loves  you  for  yourself.  All 
the  better  that  God  sent  you  to  her  unsought,  as  he  does 
the  wild  flowers.  Lina,  the  pride  which  reddens  your 
cheek,  would  be  abashed  in  her  presence." 

"  It  is  not  pride,  Ralph,  but  shame  that  such  thoughts 
should  never  have  presented  themselves  before.  I  have 
dreamed  all  my  life ;  up  to  this  morning,  I  was  a  child. 
Now,  a  single  hour  has  surrounded  me  with  realities.  The 
whole  universe  seems  changed  since  yesterday." 

Lina  looked  drearily  around  as  she  spoke.  The  hill-sides 
were  indeed  changed.  The  boughs,  twelve  hours  before,  so 
luxuriously  gorgeous,  were  half  denuded  of  their  foliage. 
The  over-ripe  leaves  were  dropping  everywhere  through  the 
damp  atmosphere.  A  gush  of  wind  shook  them  in  heavy 
clouds  to  the  earth.  All  the  late  wild  flowers  were  beaten 
down  and  half-uprooted.  Nature  seemed  merely  a  waste 
of  luxurious  beauty  thrown  into  gloomy  confusion,  among 
which  the  high  winds  tore  and  rioted. 

Lina  was  chilled  by  these  winds,  and  drew  her  shawl 
closely,  with  a  shivering  consciousness  of  the  change.  The 
young  man's  ardent  hope  had  no  power  to  reassure  her. 


110  Mabel's  Mistake. 

The  subtle  intuition  of  her  nature  could  not  be  reasoned 
with.  Sad  and  disheartened,  she  followed  Ralph  slowly 
homeward. 

A  few  hours  after  the  scene  we  have  described,  the  gov- 
erness was  half-way  up  the  hill,  on  which  the  house  of  her 
nurse  stood.  She  had  walked  all  the  way  from  General 
Harrington's  dwelling,  and  her  person  bore  marks  of  a 
rough  passage  across  the  hills.  Her  gaiter  boots  were  satu- 
rated with  wet,  and  soiled  with  reddish  clay.  Burdock 
burs  and  brambles  clung  to  the  skirt  of  her  merino  dress, 
which  exhibited  one  or  two  serious  rents.  Her  shawl  had 
been  torn  off  by  a  thicket  of  wild  roses,  and  she  carried  it 
thrown  across  her  arm,  too  much  heated  by  walking  to 
require  it,  though  the  day  was  cold. 

On  her  way  up  the  hill,  she  paused,  and  flinging  her 
shawl  on  the  ground,  sat  down.  Opening  the  vellum-bound 
book,  she  read  a  few  sentences  in  it,  with  a  greedy  desire  to 
know  the  most  important  portion  of  its  contents,  before 
resigning  it  into  hands  that  might  hereafter  deprive  her  of 
all  knowledge  regarding  them.  But  the  winds  shook  and 
rustled  the  pages  about,  till  she  was  obliged  to  desist,  and 
at  last  made  her  way  up  the  hill  in  a  flushed  and  excited 
state,  leaving  her  shawl  behind. 

The  moment  she  rose  to  a  level  with  the  house,  the  door 
opened,  and  the  woman  whom  she  claimed  as  a  slave  nurse, 
came  forth,  advancing  towards  Agnes  with  almost  ferocious 
eagerness.  She  called  out : 

"  Back  again  so  soon  !     Then  there  is  news." 

"Look  here,"  answered  Agnes,  holding  up  the  volume, 
from  which  the  jewelled  heart  still  dangled,  cleft  in  twain 
as  it  was.  "  In  less  than  an  hour  after  entering  the  house 
I  had  it  safe.  Isn't  that  quick  work  ?  " 

"  Give  it  to  me — give  it  ro  me.  You  are  a  good  girl, 
Agnes,  a  noble  girl,  worth  a  hundred  of  your  lily-faced 
white  folks.  Give  me  the  book,  honey — do  you  hear  ?  " 


MabeFs   Mistake.  Ill 

But  Agnes,  who  had  again  opened  the  volume,  held  it 
back. 

"  Not  yet,  mammy — I  have  only  read  a  little — don't  be 
too  eager — I  have  a  right  to  know  all  that  is  in  it ! " 

"  Give  me  that  book.  Her  secrets  belong  to  me — only 
to  me.  Hand  over  the  book,  I  say ! " 

"But  I  wish  to  read  it,  myself — who  has  a  better 
right  ?  " 

The  dark  eyes  of  the  slave  flashed  fire,  and  her  hands 
quivered  like  the  wings  of  a  bird  when  its  prey  is  in  sight. 
She  clutcked  fiercely  at  the  book,  hissing  out  her  impa- 
tience like  a  serpent. 

"  Take  it !  "  exclaimed  Agnes  fiercely,  "  but  don't  expect 
me  to  steal  for  you  again." 

"  Hist.!"  answered  the  woman,  crushing  the  book  under 
her  arm;  "here  comes  one  of  the  Harringtons  on  horse- 
back. Clear  that  face  and  be  ready  to  meet  him,  while  I 
go  in  and  hide  Mabel  Harrington's  soul ! " 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
JAMES  HARRINGTON'S  RIDE. 

JAMES  HARRINGTON  left  the  breakfast-table  with  a  rest- 
less desire  to  be  alone  in  the  free  air.  He  had  not  slept  dur- 
ing the  night,  but  spent  the  silent  hours  in  thought,  which 
filled  both  his  heart  and  brain  with  excitement.  The  deep 
tenderness  of  his  nature  warred  terribly  against  its  strong 
moral  force,  but  only  as  the  quick  tempests  of  summer 
hurled  against  a  rock,  beat  down  all  the  beautiful  wild 
blossoms  and  moss  upon  its  surface,  but  leave  it  immovable 
as  ever. 

As  he  went  forth  from  his  room,  Ealph  passed  him,  look- 
ing restless  and  anxious. 
7 


112  MabeFs   Mistake. 

"  Brother  James  !  Brother  James  ! "  he  said,  "  I  wish  to 
speak  with  you  very  much,  but  not  now.  I  have  no  heart 
to  say  anything  just  yet ! " 

James  smiled,  very  gravely,  hut  with  a  look  of  gentle 
patience,  that  told  how  completely  his  strong  passions  were 
held  in  control.  Few  men  in  his  excited  state  would  have 
proved  so  thoughtful  of  others ;  for  he  had  no  idea  that 
Ralph  had  any  more  important  subject  to  consult  him 
about,  than  some  shooting  excursion  in  the  hills,  or  a  horse- 
back ride  with  Lina. 

"  I  am  going  out  for  an  hour  or  two,"  he  said  ;  "I  have 
been  suffering  with  headache  all  night.  The  air  seems 
close  to  me  indoors.  After  I  come  back,  will  that  be  time 
enough,  Ralph  ?  " 

"I  don't  know.  Yes,  of  course  it  will — there  is  no 
hurry,"  answered  the  impetuous  boy,  "  only  I'm  so  vexed 
and  troubled  just  now." 

"  Well,  come  up  to  my  room.  It  does  not  matter  much 
if  I  go  or  not — this  miserable  headache  will  not  probably 
be  driven  away." 

"  No,  I  can  wait.  You  ought  to  ride  out.  How  pale  you 
are  !  Why,  your  face  is  quite  changed  !  Indeed,  brother 
James,  I  will  not  speak  another  word  till  you  get  back.  I 
wonder  what  has  come  over  us  all  this  morning.  Poor 
mother  ill — the  General  out  of  sorts — you  with  a  headache, 
and  I,  yes,  I  may  as  well  own  up — I  have  got  something  so 
near  heart-sickness  here,  that — but  never  mind — I'll  shake 
it  off,  or  know  the  reason  why.  But  one  word,  James,  did 
you  ever  think  my  mother  an  illiberal  woman  ?  " 

"  Illiberal,  Ralph  ?     Your  mother ! " 

"Well,  I  mean  this.  Is  she  a  woman  to  reject  beauty 
and  worth,  and  everything  estimable,  because — "  James 
Harrington  cut  the  question  short  by  laying  a  hand  on  his 
brother's  shoulder  somewhat  heavily. 

"  Your  mother,  Ralph,  is  a  woman  so  much  above  ques- 


Mabel's   Mistake.  113 

tion  in  all  her  actions  and  motives,  that  even  these  half- 
doubts  in  her  son  are  sacrilegious." 

The  color  rushed  up  to  Ralph's  forehead.  First  he  had 
lost  confidence  in  Lina — now,  in  his  mother. 

"  If  you  have  a  doubt  of  your  mother,  speak  it  to  her," 
said  James  more  gently,  as  he  drew  on  his  riding  gloves. 
"  After  that,  I  will  talk  with  you  !  " 

"  I  wonder  what  has  come  over  me — James  is  offended  ; 
I  never  saw  him  so  grave  before,"  muttered  Ralph,  as  his 
brother  moved  down  the  hall. 

"  Everything  goes  wrong.  Even  Fair  Star  started,  as  if 
she  would  spring  at  me,  when  I  looked  in  to  see  if  my 
mother  was  up.  I  will  put  an  end  to  this !  " 

Thus  half-passionately,  half  in  thought,  he  went  in  search, 
of  Lina. 

James  Harrington  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  away. 
He  wanted  the  clear  air  and  freedom  of  expanse,  motion, 
anything  that  would  distract  his  thoughts,  and  bring  back 
the  self-control  that  had  almost  departed  from  him.  He 
rode  at  random  along  the  highway  leading  to  the  city,  down 
cross  roads  and  by  the  shore,  sometimes  at  a  sharp  gallop, 
sometimes  giving  his  well-trained  horse  the  head,  till  both 
steed  and  rider  flashed  like  an  arrow  between  the  stooping 
branches. 

In  this  wild  way  he  rode,  unconscious  of  his  course,  and 
without  any  absolute  object,  save  free  air  and  that  rapid 
motion  which  harmonizes  so  well  with  turbulent  feelings. 
The  horse  took  his  own  way  up  hill,  along  shore,  up  hill 
again,  till  all  at  once  he  came  out  on  a  green  shelf  in  the 
hills,  upon  which  a  single  dwelling  stood. 

He  drew  up  his  horse  suddenly,  for  there  a  little  way 
from  the  house  and  some  distance  before  him,  stood  two 
women  in  eager  conversation.  One  had  her  back  toward 
him,  but  her  left  hand  was  in  sight,  and  in  it  was  an  open 
book,  with  its  leaves  fluttering  in  the  wind.  The  air  and 


114  Mabel's  Mis  fake. 

dress  of  this  person  reminded  him  so  forcibly  of  Lina's 
governess,  that  he  remained  a  moment  looking  earnestly 
that  way ;  not  that  her  presence  on  the  hill  would  have 
been  particularly  remarkable,  for  on  glancing  around  he 
recognized  by  its  position,  that  her  nurse's  house  must  be 
in  that  neighborhood.  But  that  ver}7  morning  he  had  seen 
the  governess  passing  toward  Mrs.  Harrington's  room,  and 
her  appearance  in  both  these  places  so  nearly  at  the  same 
time,  aroused  his  curiosity,  not  to  say  suspicion. 

The  object  that  struck  him  most  forcibly  was  the  fe- 
male with  whom  she  seemed  to  be  conversing.  The  stately 
person,  the  picturesque  costume,  composed  entirely  of  rich 
warm  colors,  the  eager  expression  of  features  that  must 
once  have  been  eminently  handsome — above  all,  the  air  of 
almost  ferocious  authority,  with  which  she  was  speaking, 
struck  him  as  strangely  out  of  place  in  that  solitary  spot. 
Beyond  this,  he  felt  a  vague  impression,  impalpable  and 
formless,  of  some  connection  between  that  woman  and  for- 
mer events  of  his  ov/n  life.  It  might  have  been  her  dress 
so  foreign  to  the  place,  or  her  humble  mode  of  life.  The 
Madras  kerchief,  folded  in  a  turban  over  the  black  hair  fall- 
ing down  each  side  of  her  face  in  the  heaviest  waves  of  rip- 
pling jet,  and  the  massive  earrings  that  gleamed  beneath, 
were  in  themselves  calculated  to  awake  remembrances  of  an 
early  youth  spent  in  the  South,  where  this  picturesque  cos- 
tume was  common  among  the  slaves;  but  the  woman's  face 
fascinated  his  gaze  more  than  her  general  appearance. 
Some  recollection  too  vague  for  embodiment,  arose  on  his 
brain  so  powerfully,  that  he  was  unconscious  of  the  time 
thus  spent  in  gazing  upon  her. 

At  last  the  woman  gave  a  quick  glance  toward  him.  and 
darting  forward,  snatched  at  the  book  in  her  companion's 
hand,  talking  rapidly. 

There  was  some  resistance — an  attempt  to  ward  her  off — 
but  the  book  was  at  last  yielded  to  her  impetuosity.  He 


Mabets   Mistake.  115 

saw  it,  gathered  up  under  the  woman's  arm,  concealed  by 
the  folds  of  an  orange-colored  scarf,  overrun  with  a  pattern 
of  many  gorgeous  colors,  which  she  wore,  and  carried  into 
the  house. 

Then  the  person  whose  back  had  been  toward  him, 
turned  and  looked  that  way.  It  was  Agnes  Barker.  She 
saw  him,  evidently  without  much  surprise,  and  turning, 
rather  leisurely  walked  that  way,  as  if  it  had  been  the  most 
natural  thing  in  the  world  to  meet  him  there. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Harrington,"  she  said,  coming  close  to  his 
horse,  picking  the  burs  from  her  dress  as  she  moved  along, 
'•'  can  it  be  possible  that  you  have  only  reached  this  point 
now  ?  I  left  home  half  an  hour  after  you  rode  away — on 
foot,  too,  and  am  here  before  you." 

Harrington  did  not  answer,  except  with  a  grave  bow,  but 
looked  at  her  searchingly  from  head  to  foot. 

"  Yes,"  she  continued,  dragging  her  veil  forward,  "  I  found 
a  rough  walk  after  the  storm,  everything  is  so  wet  and 
gloomy.  The  only  dr}r  spot  upon  the  shore  was  around  the 
old  cedar,  where  we  had  that  rather  interesting  scene  last 
night." 

A  quiet  smile  stole  over  Harrington's  lip.  "  Indeed,"  he 
said,  "  I  must  have  ridden  at  a  snail's  pace,  to  let  you  reach 
this  spot  before  me — especially  if  the  entire  walk  was 
beguiled  by  the  book  I  just  saw  you  surrender !" 

A  faint  flush  stole  over  Agnes  Barker's  forehead,  and  for 
an  instant  her  eyes  fell ;  then  she  looked  up  again  with  the 
pretty  deprecating  glance  of  one  who  had  been  caught  in  a 
meritorious  act,  which  her  modesty  disclaimed. 

"  Oh,  you  must  not  think  me  quite  insane,  Mr.  Harring- 
ton, if  I  did  bring  out  my  sketch-book,  in  hopes  of 
stealing  some  of  the  beautiful  autumn  tints  from  these 
masses  of  foliage.  My  good  nurse  has  just  been  scolding 
me  for  sitting  on  the  damp  ground,  forgetting  my  shawl 
behind,  and  all  that.  As  a  punishment,  she  has  carried  ^ff 


116  Mabefs  Mistake. 

my  poor  book,  and  threatens  to  burn  it.  I  hAve  been  very 
imprudent,  and  very  indecorous,  you  will  say,"  she  added, 
glancing  at  her  dress,  with  a  faint  laugh,  "  but,  no  doubt 
my  caprice  is  sufficiently  punished  by  this  time  ;  for,  if  that 
access  of  smoke  means  anything,  my  poor  sketch-book  is 
ashes  now." 

She  spoke  a  little  rapidly,  as  one  does  in  a  fever,  but 
otherwise  her  manner  was  the  perfection  of  modest  inno- 
cence. Indeed,  there  was  no  appearance  of  confusion, 
which  the  derangement  of  her  dress  was  not  quite  sufficient 
to  account  for. 

"  Well,  you  come  in  and  rest  a  while  ?  "  she  said  at  last, 
casting  a  soft  glance  upward  from  her  dress.  "  My  good 
mamm}7  may  not  be  prepared  for  such  company,  but  she 
will  make  you  welcome." 

"  Yes,"  said  Harrington,  struck  by  a  sudden  wish  to  see 
more  of  the  woman  who  had  interested  him  so  much,  "I 
will  go  in,  thank  you  !  " 

She  turned,  as  if  to  precede  him,  but  throwing  his  bridle 
over  a  sapling,  he  walked  rapidly  forward,  and  overtook  her 
just  before  she  entered  the  house.  The  door  was  partly 
open.  Agnes  turned  upon  the  threshold. 

"  I  know  that  my  poor  book  is  burned,  without  asking," 
she  said,  in  a  voice  much  louder  than  usual.  "  You  have 
no  idea,  Mr.  Harrington,  how  careful  nurse  is  of  my  health. 
Do  not  be  surprised  if  she  is  very  angry  with  me ! " 

"  It  is  very  difficult  to  surprise  me  with  anything,"  said 
Harrington,  drawing  nearer  to  the  door,  through  which  he 
saw  glimpses  of  orange-colored  drapery  disappearing  into  an 
inner  room. 

"  You  must  not  say  that,  for  I  had  expected  some  sur- 
prise at  the  view  from  this  particular  point,"  she  answered, 
evidently  wishing  to  detain  him  on  the  door  step. 

"  Yes,  it  is  very  fine  ;  but  you  will  find  the  wind  rather 
keen.  Allow  me." 


Mabels   Mistake.  117 

Harrington  pushed  the  door  wide  open,  and  Agnes  was 
obliged  to  pass  into  the  apartment  beyond.  She  seemed 
relieved  to  find  it  empty,  and  when  her  guest  looked  toward 
the  opposite  door,  observed ;  "  I  am  in  disgrace,  you  see, 
mammy  has  shut  herself  up." 

"  And  yet  I  have  some  desire  to  see  her,  if  it  were  only 
to  excuse  the  fright  we  gave  her  last  night,  by  allowing  you 
to  enter  without  knocking." 

"  Oh,  she  did  not  mind  it  in  the  least.  It  was  nothing,  I 
assiire  you." 

"  Still  I  would  like  to  speak  with  her." 

Agnes  grew  pale  about  the  lips,  a  sign  of  emotion  that 
did  not  escape  her  guest ;  but  it  passed  off  in  an  instant, 
and  she  was  slowly  approaching  the  inner  door,  when  it 
opened,  and  the  object  of  their  conversation  presented 
herself. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THAT   WOMAN. 

HARKINGTON  was,  indeed,  surprised  when  he  saw  this 
woman.  She  was  evidently  ten  years  older  than  she  had 
appeared  at  a  distance,  and,  though  that  seemed  an  impos- 
sibility, darker  too.  The  Madras  kerchief  certainly  had 
been  refolded  since  her  return  to  the  house,  for  it  came  low 
upon  the  forehead,  and  the  hair  visible  beneath  it  was 
thickly  scattered  with  white.  She  stooped  somewhat,  and 
her  gait  was  slow,  almost  shuffling.  Not  a  vestige  of  the 
imperious  air  that  had  rendered  her  so  picturesque  a  few 
.minutes  before,  remained.  She  appeared  before  him  simply 
as  a  commonplace  light  mulatto  of  rather  more  than  middle 
age,  who  might  have  been  an  upper  house  servant  in  her 
day,  but  nothing  more.  On  closer  inspection,  even  the 


118  MabeTs   Mistake. 

orange-tinted  shawl  was  soiled  and  held  around  her  person 
in  a  slovenly  manner,  as  rich  cast-off  garments  usually  are 
by  the  servants  who  inherit  them. 

At  first,  Harrington  would  not  believe  that  this  was  the 
same  woman  whose  appearance  had  made  so  deep  an 
impression  on  him,  for  a  heavy  sort  of  sluggishness,  both 
of  thought  and  feeling,  lay  on  her  features,  while  those  that 
had  aroused  his  attention  so  keenly,  were  active  and  full  of 
intelligence.  The  woman  did  not  sit  down,  but  stood  by 
the  open  door,  looking  stupidly  at  Agnes  Barker,  as  if 
waiting  for  some  command. 

"Well,  Miss  Agnes,  I'se  here,  what  does  the  master 
please  to  want  ?  " 

It  was  rather  difficult  for  James  Harrington,  self-pos- 
sessed as  he  was,  to  answer  that  question.  The  woman  had 
taken  him  by  surprise.  Her  appearance  was  so  completely 
that  of  a  common-place  servant,  that  he  was  silenced  by 
the  very  surprise  she  had  given  him.  But  for  her  dress,  he 
would  not  have  believed  in  her  identity  with  the  person  he 
had  seen  in  the  open  air,  and  that  was  worn  with  a  sloven- 
liness altogether  unlike  the  ease  remarkable  in  the  person 
whom  she  represented,  without  conveying  an  impression  of 
absolute  identity. 

Harrington  had  spent  his  early  life  in  the  South,  and 
was  at  no  loss  to  comprehend  the  peculiar  class  to  which 
this  woman  belonged.  He  answered  her  quietly,  but  still 
with  suspicion : 

"  Nothing,  aunty,  except  that  you  will  oblige  me  with  a 
glass  of  water." 

The  woman  shuffled  across  the  room,  and  brought  him 
some  water,  which  she  placed  scrupulously  on  a  plate,  by 
way  of  waiter,  before  presenting  it.  Her  air — the  loose, 
indolent  gait,  like  that  of  a  leopard  moving  sleepily  around 
its  lair — convinced  him  that  she  had  been  nothing  more 
than  a  common  household  slave,  out  of  place  in  her  cold, 


Mabel's   Mistake.  119 

and  almost  poverty-stricken  northern  home.  He  drank  the 
water  she  gave  him,  and  handing  back  the  glass,  inquired 
if  she  did  not  feel  lonety  and  chilled  by  the  cold  climate  ? 

"  I'se  allus  warm  and  comfortable  where  dat  ere  chile  is," 
said  the  woman,  looking  at  Agnes,  "  any  place  'pears  like 
home  when  she's  by,  and  I  'xpect  she  feels  like  dat  where 
old  aunty  is,  if  she  is  poor." 

"  She  is  happy  in  having  one  faithful  friend,"  answered 
Harrington,  more  and  more  satisfied  that  the  woman  was 
simply  what  she  seemed. 

A  strange  smile  quivered  for  a  moment  around  Agnes 
Barker's  lip,  but  as  Harrington  turned  his  glance  that  way, 
it  subsided  into  a  look  of  gentle  humility. 

"You  will  inform  the  ladies  that  I  shall  return  to-night. 
It  proved  a  chilly  day  for  sketching,  and  finding  myself 
nearer  my  own  home  than  the  mansion-house,  I  stole  a  few 
moments  for  poor,  old,  lonesome  mammy  here." 

Harrington  had  arisen  as  she  commenced  speaking,  and 
with  a  grave  bend  of  the  head,  promised  to  convey  her 
message. 

The  two  women  watched  him  as  he  crossed  the  rude 
garden,  and  mounted  his  horse ;  then  drawing  hurriedly 
back  into  the  house,  they  closed  the  door. 

"  What  could  have  brought  him  here  ?  Did  she  send 
him?"  inquired  the  slave-woman  anxiously,  and  all  at  once 
assximing  the  haughty  air  natural  to  her,  while  a  keen 
intelligence  came  to  her  features. 

"  No,"  answered  Agnes,  "  she  is  ill  'in  bed ;  I  am  sure 
she  has  not  seen  him  this  morning.  It  must  have  been 
accident  that  brought  him  in  this  direction." 

The  slave-woman   looked  searchingly  in  the  girl's  face. 

"  Did  he  know  that  you  came  this  way  ?  " 

"  That  is  impossible." 

"  It  should  not  be  impossible.  You  have  been  months  in 
his  house,  Agnes — I  did  not  expect  so  little  progress." 


120  Mabets  Mistake. 

Agnes  was  annoyed,  and  put  aside  the  subject  with  an 
impatient  gesture. 

"  What  have  you  been  doing,  girl  ? "  persisted  the 
woman,  "  remember  your  own  destiny  is  in  this  more  than 
mine." 

"  But  why  select  this  man,  so  difficult  of  access,  so  unat- 
tainable ?  " 

"  Because  he  has  wealth  and  power." 

"  There  is  some  other  reason,  mammy.  Let  me  know 
it!" 

"Well,  know  it,  then — I  believe  that  woman  loves  him — 
I  know  that  she  loved  him  once." 

"I  know  that  she  loves  him  yet"  said  Agnes,  with  a 
sinister  smile.  "  For  I  witnessed  a  scene  last  night,  when 
she  came  to  after  they  had  dragged  her  from  the  water, 
which  settled  that  in  my  mind ;  but  what  do  you  care  for 
that  ?  How  will  it  help  us  ?  " 

"  What  do  I  care  for  that — I — I — what  does  the  hungry 
man  care  for  food,  or  the  thirsty  one  for  water  ?  What  do 
I  care,  child  ?  Listen  :  I  hate  that  woman — from  my  soul 
I  hate  her !  " 

"  Then  it  was  hatred  of  her,  not  love  for  me,  that  brought 
us  here  !  " 

"  It  was  both,  Agnes— do  not  doubt  it.  When  I  avenge 
the  wrongs  of  my  life  on  her,  you  must  be  a  gainer." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you." 

"  It  is  not  necessary  ;  obey  me,  that  is  enough." 

"But  how  has  Mrs.  Harrington  wronged  you? " 

"  How  has  she  wronged  me,  Agnes  !  Be  quiet,  I  am  not 
to  be  questioned  in  this  way." 

"  But,  I  am  no  longer  a  child  to  be  used  blindly.  You 
have  objects  which  I  do  not  comprehend — motives  which 
are  so  rigidly  concealed  that  I,  who  am  to  help  work  them 
out,  grope  constantly  in  the  dark.  I  am  told  to  listen, 
watch,  work,  even  steal,  and  am  left  ignorant  of  the  end  to 
be  accomplished." 


Mabets   Mistake.  121 

"  Have  I  not  told  you  that  it  is  your  marriage  with  Mr. 
James  Harrington,  the  real  owner  of  all  the  property  which 
his  father  is  supposed  to  possess  ?  Am  I  not  working  to 
make  you  the  richest  lady  of  the  North,  the  wife  of  a  man 
whom  all  other  men  hold  in  reverence ;  and  in  this  am  I 
not  securing  the  dearest  and  sweetest  vengeance  that  mor- 
tal ever  tasted  ?  " 

"  But  I  do  not  think  Mr.  Harrington  cares  for  me,  or 
ever  will." 

"  What  have  you  been  doing,  then  ?  "  cried  the  woman 
fiercely.  "You  have  beauty,  or,  if  not  that,  something  far 
more  powerful — that  subtle  magnetism  which  all  men  feel 
a  thousand  times  more  forcibly,  deep  knowledge  ;  for  have 
I  not  taught  you  what  human  hearts  are  worth,  and  how  to 
dissect  them,  leaf  by  leaf?  You  have  coolness,  self-control, 
and  passion  when  it  is  wanted.  Have  I  not  trained  you 
from  the  cradle  for  this  one  object,  and  dare  you  talk  of  its 
failure  ?  " 

"  Mammy,  let  us  understand  each  other.  Cannot  we  ac- 
complish the  same  thing,  and  both  be  gratified  ?  I  do  not 
love  Mr.  James  Harrington,  but  there  is  one  of  the  name 
that  I  do  love,  heart  and  soul." 

"  And  who  is  that  ?  "  demanded  the  woman  sharply,  and 
her  black  eyes  caught  fire  from  the  anger  within  her. 

"  It  is  the  other,  Ralph  Harrington." 

How  hard  and  defiant  was  the  voice  in  which  Agnes  Bar- 
ker said  this — a  young  girl  expressing  her  first  love  without 
a  blush,  and  with  that  air  of  cold-blooded  defiance.  It  was 
terrible ! 

"  Ralph.  Harrington,  he  is  her  son,  and  a  beggar  !  "  cried 
the  woman  bitterly. 

"  I  do  not  understand  what  force  may  lie  in  the  first  ob- 
jection, and  I  do  not  believe  in  the  second.  Ealph  cannot 
be  a  beggar,  while  his  brother  holds  so  much  wealth ;  at 
any  rate,  I  love  him." 


122  MabeFs   Mistake. 

"  Love,  girl !  What  have  you  to  do  with  this  sweet 
poison  ?  The  thing  Love  is  not  your  destiny." 

"  It  is,  though,  and  shall  control  it,"  replied  Agnes,  with 
the  same  half-insolent  tone  ;  for  it  seemed  to  be  a  relief  for 
this  young  girl  to  act  out  spontaneously  the  evil  of  her 
nature,  and  she  appeared  to  enjoy  the  kindling  anger  of 
her  servant— if  that  slave  woman  was  her  servant — with 
vicious  relish. 

The  woman  walked  close  to  the  insolent  girl,  with  her 
hand  clenched,  and  her  lips  pressed  firmly  together. 

"Agnes,  Agnes — you  cannot  know  how  much  rests  on 
you — how  great  a  revenge  your  obstinacy  may  baffle." 

"  I  know  that  I  love  Ralph  Harrington,  and  if  it  will 
comfort  you  to  hear  it,  he  does  not  love  me,"  answered  the 
girl  with  a  burning  glow  in  either  cheek. 

"  Oh,  you  have  come  back  again — it  is  his  blood  on  fire 
in  your  cheeks.  I  have  no  fear  of  you,  Agnes.  That  blood 
grows  strong  with  age  like  old  wine,  and  soon  learns  to 
give  hatred  for  unanswered  love.  1  can  trust  the  blood." 

"  But  he  shall  love  me,  or,  at  any  rate,  no  one  else  shall 
have  what  he  withholds  from  me." 

"  Be  still,  Agnes,  do  not  make  me  angry  again.  You 
and  I  must  work  together.  Tell  me,  did  you  succeed  in 
quieting  General  Harrington's  inquiries  regarding  the 
letters  of  recommendation  ?  " 

"Did  I  succeed?"  answered  Agnes,  with  a  smile  that 
crept  over  her  young  lips  like  a  viper.  "  The  old  General 
is  more  pliable  than  the  son.  Oh,  yes,  when  lie  began 
questioning  me  of  the  whereabouts  of  our  kind  friends  who 
tli ink  so  much  of  us,  you  know,  I  put  forth  all  the  accom- 
plishments you  have  taught  me,  and  wiled  him  from  the 
subject  in  no  time.  You  have  just  questioned  my  beauty, 
mammy.  I  doubt  if  he  did  then,  for  his  eyes  were  not  off 
my  face  a  moment.  What  fine  eyes  the  old  gentleman  has, 
though  !  I  think  it  would  be  easier  to  obey  you  in  that 
quarter  than  the  other." 


MabeCs   Mistake.  123 

As  she  uttered  the  last  words  with  a  reckless  lift  of  the 
head,  the  slave-woman  made  a  spring  at  her,  and  grasping 
the  scornfully  uplifted  shoulder,  bent  her  face — which  was 
that  of  a  fiend — close  to  the  young  girl's  ear :  "  Beware, 
girl,  beware  ! "  she  whispered,  "  you  are  treading  among 
adders." 

"  I  think  you  are  crazy,"  was  the  contemptuous  reply,  as 
Agnes  released  her  shoulder  from  the  gripe  of  that  fierce 
hand.  "lily  shoulder  will  be  black  and  blue  after  this, 
and  all  for  a  joke  about  a  conceited  old  gentleman  whom  we 
are  both  taking  in.  Did  you  not  tell  me  to  delude  him  off 
the  subject  if  he  mentioned  those  letters  of  recommendation 
again  ?  " 

The  woman  did  not  answer,  but  stood  bending  forward 
as  if  ashamed  of  her  violence,  but  yet  with  a  gleam  of  rage 
lingering  in  her  black  eyes. 

"  Have  you  done  ? "  said  Agnes,  arranging  her  velvet 
sacque,  which  had  been  torn  from  its  buttons  in  front,  by 
the  rude  handling  she  had  received. 

"  You  must  not  speak  in  that  way  again,"  answered  the 
old  woman  in  a  low  voice,  "  I  did  not  mean  to  hurt  you, 
child,  but  General  Harrington  is  not  a  man  for  girls  like 
you  to  joke  about." 

"  This  is  consistent,  upon  my  word,"  answered  the  girl 
with  a  short  scornful  laugh.  "  You  teach  me  to  delude  the 
old  gentleman  into  a  half-flirtation.  He  meets  me  in  the 
grounds — begins  to  ask  about  the  persons  from  whom  we 
obtained  those  precious  recommendations,  and  when  I 
attempt  to  escape  the  subject,  persists  in  walking  by  me  till 
I  led  him  a  merry  dance  up  the  steepest  hill  that  could  be 
found,  and  left  him  there  out  of  breath,  and  in  the  midst  of 
a  protestation  that  I  was  the  loveliest  person  he  had  ever 
seen.  Loveliest — no,  that  was  not  it — the  most  bewitching 
creature !  these  were  the  last  words  I  remember,  for  that 
moment  Benson's  boat  hove  in  sight,  and  there  sat  madam 


124  Mdbets  Mistake. 

looking  fairly  at  us.  If  they  had  been  a  moment  later,  I'm 
quite  sure  the  old  fellow  would  have  been  down  upon  his 
knees  in  the  dead  leaves." 

The  slave-woman  listened  to  this  flippant  speech  in  cold 
silence.  She  was  endowed  with  a  powerful  will,  matched 
with  pride  that  was  almost  satanic.  She  saw  the  malicious 
pleasure  with  which  Agnes  said  all  this,  and  would  not 
gratify  it  by  a  single  glance.  With  all  her  wicked  craft, 
the  young  girl  was  no  match  for  the  woman. 

"  You  have  acted  unwisely,"  she  said  with  worderful 
self-command ;  "  never  trifle  with  side  issues  when  they  can 
possibly  interfere  with  the  main  object.  I  wished  to  evade 
General  Harrington's  close  scrutiny  into  our  antecedents  5 
to  soothe  the  lion,  not  goad  him.  Be  careful  of  this  a 
second  time ! " 

How  calmly  she  spoke !  You  would  not  have  believed 
her  the  same  woman  who  had  sprung  ivpon  the  girl  so  like 
a  tiger  only  a  few  moments  before.  Even  Agnes  looked 
upon  her  with  amazement. 

"  Woman,"  she  said,  "  tell  me  what  you  are  at — trust  me, 
and  I  will  help  you  heart  and  soul." 

"  What !  even  to  the  giving  up  of  this  new-born  love  ?  " 

"  Even  to  that,  if  I  can  be  convinced  of  its  necessity." 

"  I  will  trust  you." 

"Wholly— entirely?" 

"Entirely!" 

The  girl  threw  her  arms  around  that  singular  woman, 
their  lips  met,  and  the  subtle  force  of  one  heart  kindled 
ami  burned  in  the  bosom  of  the  other. 

"  Tell  me  everything,  mamma !  " 

"I  will.  But  first,  let  us  read  Mabel  Harrington's 
journal,  it  will  prepare  you  for  the  rest." 

They  opened  the  stolen  book,  and  sat  down  together 
BO  close  that  their  arms  were  interlaced,  and  their  cheeks 
touched  as  they  read. 


MabeTs   Mistake.  125 

It  was  a  terrible  picture,  that  meagre,  dimly-lighted 
room,  the  tree-boughs  waving  against  the  window,  their 
lea.ves  vocal  with  the  last  sob  of  the  storm,  and  those  two 
women  with  their  keen  evil  faces,  their  lips  parted  with 
eagerness,  and  their  eyes  gleaming  darkly,  as  they  drank 
up  the  secrets  of  poor  Mabel  Harrington's  life. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

OLD  HEADS  AND  YOUNG  HEAKTS. 

GENERAL  HARRINGTON  spent  the  entire  day  at  home. 
After  the  rather  uncomfortable  breakfast  we  have  already 
described,  he  went  to  his  library,  discontented  and  moody. 
All  day  he  was  disposed  to  be  restless  and  dissatisfied  with 
his  books,  as  he  had  been  with  the  appointments  of  his 
morning  meal.  Indignant  with  his  whole  household,  for 
not  being  on  the  alert  to  amuse  him,  he  declined  going 
down  to  dinner ;  but  ordering  some  choicely  cooked  birds 
and  a  bottle  of  champagne  in  his  own  room,  amused  his 
rather  fastidious  appetite  with  these  delicacies,  while  he 
luxuriated  in  his  dressing-gown,  and  read  snatches  from  a 
new  book  of  poems  that  had  interested  him  for  the  moment. 

This  rather  pleasant  occupation  wiled  away  an  hour, 
when  he  was  interrupted  by  a  knock  at  the  door.  Lifting 
his  eyes  from  the  book,  the  General  said,  "  Come  in,"  rather 
hastily,  for  the  knock  had  broken  into  one  of  the  finest 
passages  of  the  poem,  and  General  Harrington  detested  in- 
terruptions of  any  kind,  either  in  a  mental  or  sensual  enjoy- 
ment. 

"  Come  in  ! " 

The  General  was  a  good  deal  astonished  when  his  son 
Ralph  opened  the  door,  and  stood  before  him  with  an  air 


126  Mabel 's  Mistake. 

of  awkward  constraint,  that  would  certainly  have,  secured 
him  a  reprimand  had  he  not  been  the  first  to  speak. 

"Father!" 

General  Harrington  gave  an  impatient  wave  of  the  hand. 

"  Young  gentleman,"  he  said,  "  how  often  am  I  to  remind 
you  that  the  use  of  the  paternal  title  after  childhood  is 
offensive.  Can't  you  call  me  General  Harrington,  sir,  as 
other  people  do  ?  A  handsome  young  fellow  six  feet  high 
should  learn  to  forget  the  nursery.  Sit  down,  sir,  sit  down 
and  converse  like  a  gentleman,  if  you  have  anything  to 
say." 

The  blood  rose  warmly  in  Ralph's  face,  not  that  he  was 
angry  or  surprised,  but  it  seemed  impossible  to  open  his 
warm  heart  to  the  man  before  him. 

"  Well  then,  General,"  he  said,  with  a  troubled  smile, 
"I — I've  been  getting  into — into " 

"  Not  into  debt,  I  trust,"  said  the  General,  folding  the 
skirts  of  the  Turkish  dressing-gown  over  his  knees,  and 
smoothing  the  silken  frabric  with  his  hand,  but  speaking 
with  a  degree  of  genuine  bitterness,  "  because,  if  that's  it, 
you  had  better  go  to  James  at  once — he  is  the  millionare. 
I  am  not  much  better  than  his  pensioner  myself! " 

"  It  is  not  that,"  answered  Ralph,  with  an  effort  which, 
sent  the  blood  crimsoning  to  his  temples,  "  though  money 
may  have  something  to  do  with  it  in  time.  The  truth  is, 
General,  I  have  been  in  love  with  Lina  all  my  life,  and 
never  found  it  out  till  yesterday." 

General  Harrington  gave  the  youth  a  look  from  under 
his  bent  brows,  that  made  the  young  man  shrink  back  in 
his  chair,  but  in  a  moment  the  unpleasant  expression  went 
off,  and  a  quiet  smile  stole  over  the  old  man's  lip. 

"  Oh,  you  will  get  over  that,  Ralph.  It  isn't  worth  being 
angry  about.  Of  course,  you  will  get  over  it.  I  think  this 
is  a  first  love,  hey  ! " 

"  The  first  and  last  with  me,  fath— General." 


MabeVs   Mistake.  127 

"  Yes,  yes,  of  course — I  think  I  remember  feeling  a  little 
in  the  same  way  at  your  age.  It  won't  be  serious — these 
things  never  are  ! " 

"  But  I  am  very  serious.  I  have  told  her  all  about  it. 
My  honor  is  pledged." 

The  young  man — who,  by  the  way,  really  seemed  a  mere 
boy  yet  to  his  father — was  going  on  with  some  vehemence, 
but  he  was  coldly  cut  short  by  the  General,  who  sat  regard- 
ing his  enthusiasm  with  a  most  provoking  smile. 

"  Of  course,  I  supposed  so — eternal  constancy  and  devo- 
tion on  both  sides  !  Very  well,  what  can  I  do  about  it  ?  " 

"  Oh,  father,  I  beg  your  pardon — but  you  can  do  every- 
thing. Your  free,  hearty  consent  is  all  I  ask — and  if  you 
would  be  so  kind  as  to  exert  a  little  influence  with  moth- 
er." 

"Then  you  have  told  this  to  her,  before  coming  to  me," 
said  the  General,  and  his  brow  darkened. 

"  No,  sir,  I  have  spoken  to  no  one  but  Lina.  It  was  my 
duty  to  come  to  you  first,  and  I  am  here." 

"That  is  better;  but  how  do  you  know  that  Mrs.  Har- 
rington will  disapprove  of  your  caprice  for  her  protege,  if 
no  one  has  spoken  to  her  on  the  subject  ?  " 

"  I  believe,  sir,  that  Lina  said  something  about  it ;  but 
before  she  could  be  very  definite,  my  mother  fainted.  This 
frightened  my — I  mean,  it  terrified  poor  Lina,  and  she  had 
no  courage  to  go  on ;  so  we  were  in  hopes,  sir,  that  you 
would  be  so  good." 

The  General  sat  gazing  upon  the  handsome  face  of  his 
son,  with  the  air  of  a  person  revolving  some  thought  rap- 
idly in  his  mind.  At  last,  his  cold  eyes  brightened,  and  a 
smile  crept  over  his  mouth. 

"  It  was  very  right  to  come  here  first,  Ralph,  and  remem- 
ber your  iuty  goes  no  farther.  I  will  only  consent  to  your 
marrying  this  girl  at  all,  on  condition  that  you,  neither  of 
you,  ever  speak  pn  the  subject  to  any  pue.  You  are  both 
8 


128  Mabels   Mistake. 

very  young,  and  a  year  or  two  hence  will  be  time  enough 
for  a  decision  ;  but  I  will  have  no  gossip  about  the  matter. 
Above  all,  my  son  James  must  be  left  entirely  uncom- 
mitted. I  only  consent  to  let  this  fancy  have  a  proper  trial. 
If  it  proves  serious,  of  course  the  whole  family  will  be 
informed ;  but  till  then  I  must  have  your  promise  not  to 
speak  of  it  to  any  one  not  already  informed." 

The  young  man  drew  close  to  his  father,  and  taking  his 
hand,  kissed  it. 

"  I  promise,  father ! " 

The  General  was  pleased  with  the  homage  and  grace 
of  this  action,  and  rising  placed  a  hand  on  Kalph's 
shoulder,  more  cordially  than  he  had  done  for  years. 

"  Are  you  sure  she  cares  for  you,  Kalph  ?  I  have  seen 
nothing  to  suggest  the  idea." 

"  I  think,  indeed  I  am  quite  certain  that  she  does  not 
like  any  one  else  near  so  much,"  answered  the  young  man, 
reluctant  to  compromise  Lina's  delicacy  by  a  broader  con- 
fession. 

"  Young  men  are  always  confident,"  said  the  General 
with  a  bland  smile.  "  I  think  that  faith  in  woman  was  the 
first  delusion  that  I  gave  up.  Still  it  is  pleasant  while  it 
lasts.  Heaven  forbid  that  I  should  brush  the  bloom  from 
your  grapes,  my  boy.  So  you  really  think  that  mamma's 
little  protege"  knows  her  own  mind,  and  that  my  son  knows 
his  ?  " 

A  pang  came  to  the  ardent  heart  of  the  youth  as  he 
listened.  Another  golden  thread  snapped  under  the  cold- 
blooded worldliness  of  that  crafty  old  man. 

General  Harrington  looked  in  his  face,  and  analyzed  the 
play  of  those  handsome  features,  exactly  as  he  had  tasted 
the  game-birds  and  champagne  a  half  hour  before.  The 
same  relish  was  in  both  enjoyments,  only  one  was  the 
epicureanism  of  a  mind  that  found  pleasure  in  dissecting  a 
young  heart,  and  the  other,  quite  as  important  to  him,  was 
a  delicious  sensuality. 


Mabets   Mistake.  129 

And  Ralph  stood  under  this  scrutiny  with  a  cloud  on  his 
tine  brow  and  a  faint  quiver  of  the  lip.  It  was  agony  to 
think  of  Lina  without  perfect  confidence  in  her  affection  for 
himself.  Yet  he  was  so  young,  and  his  father  had  seen  so 
much.  If  he  found  no  evidence  of  Lina's  attachment  to 
himself,  it  might  he  that  all  was  a  delusion. 

The  old  man  read  these  thoughts,  and  took  upon  himself 
a  gentle  air  of  composure. 

"  These  things  often  happen  when  young  people  are 
thrown  together  in  the  same  house,  Ralph.  It  is  a  pleasant 
dream.  Both  parties  wake  up,  and  there  is  no  harm  done. 
Don't  take  the  thing  to  heart,  it  isn't  worth  while." 

"  Then  you  think,  sir,  she  really  does  not  care  for  me  ?  " 

With  all  his  worldliness,  the  old  man  could  hardly  with- 
stand the  appeal  of  those  magnificent  eyes,  for  Ralph  pos- 
sessed the  beautiful  charm  of  deep  feeling,  without  a  particle 
of  self-conceit.  He  began  to  wonder  how  Lina  ever  could 
have  fancied  him,  and  to  grieve  over  the  delusion. 

"It  is  strange,"  said  the  General,  as  if  musing  with 
himself,  "  it  is  strange,  but  these  very  young  creatures 
seldom  do  give  their  first  preferences  to  persons  of  cor- 
responding age.  Girls  love  to  look  up  to  men  with  rever- 
ence. It  is  really  wonderful." 

The  young  man  started,  fire  flashed  into  his  eyes,  and  for 
an  instant  he  was  breathless. 

"  You — you  cannot  mean  that,  Lina — my  Lina  loves  some 
one  else  !  "  he  said,  speaking  rapidly — "  Who  has  she  known 
but  me,  and — and — ?  '*  He  stopped  short,  looking  wist- 
fully at  his  father. 

"  You  and  my  son  James  ?     No  one,  certainly,  no  one." 

"Brother  James  !  oh,  father." 

"But  you  are  satisfied  that  she  loves  you,  and  that  is 
enough,"  answered  the  General,  waving  his  hand  as  if  tired 
of  the  discussion.  "It  is  decided  that  this  whole  subject 
rests  between  ourselves.  Come  to  me  a  year,  nay,  six 


130  MabeVs  Mistake. 

months  from  now,  and  if  you  desire  it,  then,  I  will  not  bo 
hard  with  you." 

The  General  seated  himself  as  he  spoke,  and  resumed  his 
book  with  a  gentle  wave  of  the  hand.  Kalph  bent  his  head 
partly  in  submission,  partly  to  conceal  the  flush  that  sup- 
pressed tears  left  about  his  eyes  and  went  out,  leaving  the 
first  pure  jewel  of  his  heart  in  that  old  man's  hands. 

The  twilight  had  crept  on  during  this  conversation. 
General  Harrington  rang  the  bell  for  a  servant  to  remove 
the  silver  tray  on  which  his  dinner  had  been  served,  and 
consumed  considerable  time  in  directing  how  the  lamp 
should  be  placed,  in  order  to  protect  his  eyes  as  he  read. 
When  once  more  alone,  he  cast  a  thought  back  to  his  son. 

"  It  will  do  him  good.  I  wonder  now  if  I,  General 
Harrington,  ever  was  so  confiding,  so  rash,  so  generous, — 
for  the  boy  is  generous.  My  son,  on  whom  -so  much 
depends,  married  to  that  girl !  I  was  almost  tempted  into  a 
scene  with  the  first  mention  of  it." 

With  these  thoughts  floating  through  his  brain,  the 
General  leaned  back  in  his  chair  more  discomposed  thau 
usual  by  his  late  interview,  for  though  his  reflections  were 
all  worldly  and  commonplace,  they  had  a  deeper  and  unex- 
pressed importance  hardly  recognized  by  himself. 

Again  there  was  a  low  knock  at  the  door,  and  again  the 
General  bade  the  intruder  come  in,  rather  hastily,  for  he 
•was  in  no  humor  for  company !  "  Miss  Barker ;  Miss 
Agnes  Barker,"  he  said,  as  that  girl  presented  herself  and 
softly  closed  the  door,  "you  are  too  kind — I  only  regret 
that  this  pleasant  surprise  detects  me  en  deshabille." 

"  General  Harrington  is  always  General  Harrington  in 
any  dress — besides,  I  have  a  preference  for  this  sort  of 
orientalism." 

"  You  are  kind  to  forgive  me,  and  kinder  to  allow  me  the 
happiness  of  your  presence.  Sit  down  !  " 

"!No;"   answered  the  governess,  with  a  look  from  her 


Mabels   Mistake.  131 

black  almond-shaped  eyes  that  brought  a  glow  into  the  old 
man's  cheek  deeper  than  the  wine  had  left.  "  I  found  the 
book  open  upon  Mrs.  Harrington's  desk.  She  must  have 
forgotten  it  there  after  her  fainting  fit  this  morning.  I  am 
sure  she  has  no  secrets  from  her  husband,  and  so  bring  it 
to  you,  as  it  may  excite  her  to  be  disturbed,  and  I  have  no 
key  to  her  desk." 

The  General  reached  forth  his  hand,  struck  by  the  vellum 
binding  and  jewelled  clasp,  for  he  was  a  connoisseur  in  such 
matters,  and  the  effect  pleased  him. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  he  said,  opening  the  book  and  leaning 
towards  the  light,  "  some  illuminated  missal,  I  fancy,  or 
rare  manuscript.  Oh — ha,  my  lady's  journal — let  us  see." 

He  had  opened  the  book  at  random,  and  with  a  gratified 
smile,  but  directly  the  expression  of  his  face  hardened,  and 
his  lips  parted  with  surprise.  He  turned  the  open  volume 
toward  Agnes,  who  stood  leaning  upon  the  table  opposite ; 
placed  his  finger  sternly  upon  a  passage  of  the  writing,  and 
demanded  whether  she  had  read  it. 

"  You  insult  me  with  the  question,"  said  the  lady,  draw- 
ing herself  up,  "I  did  not  expect  this/'  and  before  he 
could  speak  Agnes  glided  from  the  room. 


CHAPTEE  XIX. 

THE   LOVER'S    CONFESSION. 

RALPH  dared  not  confide  in  his  brother  James,  as  he 
had  proposed  to  himself,  and  the  elder  Harrrington  was  so 
occupied  with  his  own  conflicting  thoughts  that  the  momen- 
tary annoyance  expressed  by  the  youth  had  passed  from  his 
mind.  He  did  not  even  remark  that  Ralph  avoided  any 
conversation  with  him,  or  that  Lina  was  paler  than  usual,  and 


132  Mabels   Mistake. 

from  time  to  time  looked  anxiously  in  his  face,  as  if  to  draw 
some  reassurance  from  its  expression  that  might  bring  her 
back  into  the  bosom  of  the  family  from  which  she  felt  all 
at  once  inexplicably  repulsed.  The  General  was  absent,  or 
remained  in  his  own  room,  sending  down  word  that  he  was 
occupied,  and  that  the  business  of  the  day  must  go  on  with- 
out him. 

Mabel  was  not  yet  well  enough  to  leave  her  own  imme- 
diate apartments.  Thus  it  happened  that  a  silent  and 
uncomfortable  meal  followed  every  reunion  of  the  family 
for  some  days  after  the  storm,  which  seemed  still  brooding 
blackly  over  the  household.  James  Harrington  went  forth 
again  and  again  from  the  breakfast  room,  without  regard- 
ing the  anxious  looks  of  his  brother,  or  the  tearful  eyes  of 
poor  Lina,  and  both  these  young  persons  held  him  in  that 
awe  which  is  always  felt  when  reserve  and  secrets  creep 
into  bosoms  warmed  with  kindred  life. 

Poor  Lina.  She  felt,  in  that  splendid  mansion,  like  Eve 
wandering  through  the  bowers  of  paradise  after  the  sentence 
of  banishment  had  been  passed  upon  her.  Lonely  and 
sad  of  heart,  she  sat  hour  after  hour  in  her  solitary  chamber 
waiting  for  some  one  to  summon  her,  or  ask  a  cause  for  the 
tears  that  came  trembling  with  every  thought  to  her  heavy 
eyes.  She  avoided  Ralph,  for  without  his  parents'  consent, 
her  own  sensitive  delicacy  rendered  the  old  intercourse 
impossible,  and  any  other,  wounded  her  to  the  soul  with  its 
restraints.  Thus  it  happened  that  pretty,  pure-hearted 
Lina  sat  in  her  room  and  wept. 

But  Ralph  was  more  impetuous.  After  exploring  every 
part  of  the  old  mansion,  dragging  out  guns,  fishing  tackle, 
and  other  provocatives  of  amusement,  only  to  put  them 
back  again  in  disgust — after  rowing  furiously  up  and  down 
the  river,  unconscious  and  uncaring  what  course  he  took, 
the  youth  grew  impatient  under  his  restraints,  and  promptly 
resolved  to  break  through  them  at  any  rate,  as  far  as  Lina 


MabeCs  Mistake.  183 

was  concerned.  She  should  creep  away  in  gentle  silence 
and  spend  her  time  in  weeping  no  longer.  He  remembered 
that  General  Harrington  had  not  forbidden  them  to  meet 
as  of  old,  and  that  his  prohibition  of  speech  could  not 
extend  to  the  mother,  who  had  already  been  to  some  extent 
confided  in.  In  short,  Ralph  was  young,  ardent,  and  restive 
of  trouble,  so,  after  a  brief  battle  with  himself,  he  resolved 
that  the  General  had  meant  nothing  by  his  prohibition,  but 
to  prevent  premature  gossip  in  the  household. 

When  quite  convinced  of  this,  the  youth  cast  all  other 
thoughts  aside,  and  sought  out  Lina  in  her  solitude.  She 
heard  his  footsteps  with  a  leap  of  the  heart,  and  a  brighten- 
ing of  the  eye  which  no  sense  of  duty  could  check.  How 
hopefully  it  sounded,  how  bold  and  firm  it  was.  What  had 
happened  ?  Would  he  stop  at  her  door  ? 

Yes,  yes,  Lina !  his  heart  bounds  and  throbs  even  more 
warmly  than  your  own  !  His  face  is  radiant  with  hope, 
which,  without  other  source,  springs  out  of  his  own  buoy- 
ant nature.  He  has  cast  doubt  behind  him,  and  says,  in 
answer  to  the  arguments  that  struggle  to  get  possession  of 
liis  reason,  "  Let  to-morrow  take  care  of  itself.  I  will  see 
Lina  to-day ! " 

He  knocks  at  her  door,  and  a  smile  that  she  cannot  help, 
breaks  through  the  trouble  in  Lina's  eyes,  as  she  arises 
with  a  thrill  of  mingled  joy  and  dread,  to  let  him  in.  She 
opens  the  door,  and  stands  before  him,  blushing,  and  all  in 
a  tremor  of  delight,  which  will  not  be  suppressed,  but  which 
her  little  heart  says  is  very  ungrateful  and  wicked,  know- 
ing, as  she  did,  how  wrong  it  was  for  her,  a  poor  little  out- 
cast, to  think  of  Ralph  Harrington,  when  his  mother  is  op- 
posed to  it  utterly,  and  his  father  almost  treats  the  whole 
subject  with  ridicule.  Ralph  has  told  her  faithfully  every 
word  that  passed  between  him  and  his  father,  and  her  deli- 
cate intuition  detects  the  uncertainty  and  hollowness  of  it 
all.  With  these  honorable  feelings  warring  against  the 


134  MabeVs  Mistake. 

newly-awakened  love  in  her  heart,  it  is  no  woi.der  that  gen- 
tle Lina  trembled,  and  grew  red  and  white  again  in  the 
presence  of  her  lover. 

"  Lina,  dear,  dear,  Lina." 

She  reached  out  her  hand.  How  could  she  resist  beneath 
that  bright,  hopeful  look  ?  Her  lips,  that  had  begun  to 
quiver,  dimpled  into  a  smile,  as  the  soft  fingers  yielded 
themselves  to  his  clasp.  She  attempted  to  reprove  his  com- 
ing, but  that  rebellious  little  mouth  would  only  say  "  Ralph ! 
oh,  Ralph ! "  with  a  gush  of  tender  joy  in  the  words,  which 
made  the  heart  leap  in  his  bosom,  like  a  prisoned  bird  called 
suddenly  by  its  mate. 

"  Lina,  dear,  dear,  Lina !  you  look  sad.  Your  poor  eyes 
are  heavy.  You  can  bear  this  no  longer.  I  am  a  man,  and 
strong,  but  it  almost  kills  me  to  be  away  from  you.  The 
General  is  away.  I  believe  my  mother  is  in  her  room. 
Come  with  me.  Anything  is  better  than  seeing  you 
suffer." 

Lina  drew  back,  and  tried  to  wrest  her  hand  from  his 
grasp,  but  he  only  held  it  more  firmly. 

"  No,  no.  I  do  not  suffer  any,  hardly.  Go  away,  Ralph, 
dear  Ralph,  go  away,  or  it  will  kill  me." 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  see  you  unauthorized.  Come  to  my 
mother,  Lina ! " 

"No,  no,  I  dare  not.  It  kills  me  to  remember  that 
look." 

"  But  I  can  endure  these  restraints  no  longer,  Lina.  My 
father,  at  least,  does  not  withhold  a  conditional  consent — 
surely  our  mother,  the  dearest  and  best  woman  that  ever 
drew  breath,  will  not  be  less  generous.  At  any  rate,  we 
will  know  the  worst.  Come,  Lina." 

The  young  man,  with  his  untamed  will,  drew  the  timid 
Lina  firmly,  but  tenderly,  from  her  vantage  ground  in  the 
room,  and  hurried  her  away  toward  his  mother's  room. 

Mabel  was  sitting  up,  calm  and  pale,  like  one  who  ceases 


Mistake.  135 

to  resist,  though  in  the  midst  of  a  storm.  She  arose  to  re- 
ceive her  son  with  a  gentle  smile,  and  glanced  kindly  at 
Lina. 

Kalph,  full  of  impetuous  warmth,  threw  his  arm  around 
the  young  girl,  and  brought  her  forward  with  gentle  force. 

"  Mother,  you  have  always  loved  her ;  now  let  it  be  more 
than  ever,  for  my  sake.  She  is  all  the  world  to  me." 

They  were  looking  upward  to  Mabel's  face — the  one 
boldly  and  with  honest  confidence,  th.e  other  shy  and  wistful 
— dreading  the  first  glance,  as  if  it  had  been  a  dagger. 
But  an  exclamation  of  astonishment  broke  from  them  both, 
at  the  sudden  illumination  of  those  eyes — at  the  smile  that 
parted  her  lips,  like  sunshine  forcing  a  red  rose  bud  into 
sudden  flower.  Yes,  the  countenance  of  Mabel  Harrington 
brightened  into  beauty  then,  and  it  was  one  which  the 
heart  leaped  toward  with  gushes  of  tenderness. 

The  eyes  of  Ralph  Harrington  danced  and  sparkled  in 
their  joy,  and  Lina's  brightened  up,  till  the  very  tears 
shone  like  diamonds  in  them. 

"  Oh,  mother,  my  blessed,  blessed  mother,  how  happy  you 
have  made  us — how  good  you  are ! " 

And  yet  she  had  not  spoken  a  word.  That  eloquent  face 
had  done  it  all.  She  sunk  slowly  to  her  seat,  sighing,  but, 
oh  !  how  pleasantly.  Kalph  seized  her  hand,  which  he  cov- 
ered with  grateful  kisses.  Lina  fell  upon  her  knees,  and 
burying  her  face  in  Mabel's  lap,  mingled  soft  murmurs  with 
a  world  of  broken  sighs,  as  she  had  done  many  a  time  when 
a  little  petted  child.  Her  gentle  heart  was  brimful  of 
thanksgiving,  which  she  could  utter  in  no  other  way. 

"  My  children  you  have  made  me  so  happy!  "  exclaimed 
Mabel,  folding  them  both  in  her  arms.  "  I  never  expected 
to  be  happy  again,  and  lo !  God  heaps  all  this  blessedness 
at  my  feet." 

"  I  thought  you  were  offended  with  me,"  said  Lina,  lift- 
ing her  bright  face  to  meet  the  pleasant  glance  bent  upon 
her. 


136  Mabets   Mistake. 

"  Offended,  darling  !  I  misunderstood  you.  Why,  lady- 
bird, did  you  call  my  son  Ralph,  Mr.  Harrington  ?  " 

Lina  blushed  scarlet,  and  Ralph  laughed,  little  dreaming 
what  cruel  struggles  had  followed  this  trifling  change  of 
names.  Indeed,  Ralph  was  rather  proud  of  the  new  dig- 
nity with  which  Lina's  bashful  love  had  invested  him  ;  and 
Lina  was  greatly  puzzled  to  know  what  harm  thdre  was  in 
calling  so  fine  a  young  fellow)  Mr.  Harrington,  after  all. 

While  they  were  hovering  around  Mabel's  chair,  over- 
whelming her  with  the  abundance  of  their  own  happiness, 
there  was  a  commotion  among  the  passion-flowers  at  the 
window,  and  the  vine  was  once  so  violently  agitated,  that 
some  of  its  blossoms  dropped  away  and  fell  through  the 
sash-door;  but  no  one  of  that  happy  trio  heeded  it,  and 
Agnes  Barker  escaped  once  more  from  the  balcony  unseen. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE   BOUQUET    OF    ROSES. 

AND  now  Mabel  was  left  alone,  with  the  cup  of  bitter 
trial  removed  from  her  lips,  and  a  flood  of  thankfulness 
gushing  up  from  her  heart.  How  she  loved  those  two 
young  people !  How  her  eyes  filled  as  she  gazed  after 
them  ! 

She  sat  down  in  her  easy-chair,  serene  and  happy.  The 
very  absence  of  the  harassing  doubts  that  had  tormented 
her,  was  in  itself  almost  a  bliss. 

The  day  was  quiet  and  dreamy — one  of  those  late  Indian 
Summer  mornings,  when  existence  itself  seems  heavenly.  • 
The  sash  was  open,  and  the  odor  of  heliotrope  and  roses 
came  through,  softening  the  sweet  thoughts  that  floated  in 
her  brain,  and  becoming,  as  it  were,  a  part  of  them.     She 


Mabets   Mistake.  137 

became  very  languid  and  dreamy  after  tnis,  for  the  strain 
upon  her  energies  being  removed,  the  reaction  rendered  her 
helpless  as  a  little  child.  God  had  put  aside  the  evil  day. 
She  was  not  to  be  wounded  by  those  whom  she  had  cher- 
ished closest  to  her  heart.  Ralph  and  Lina !  How  she 
loved  to  murmur  over  those  names  in  her  solitude !  How 
pleasant  if  was  to  think  of  them,  united,  and  still  keeping 
the  family  bond  unbroken. 

Kalph  had  forgotten  to  enforce  secrecy  on  his  mother, 
and  her  first  thought  was  to  talk  this  new  promise  of  family 
union  over  with  James  Harrington.  Then,  all  at  once,  she 
remembered  that  since  her  accident,  no  message  had  been 
given  her  from  him,  and  though  he  was  always  admitted  to 
her  boudoir  with  as  little  ceremony  as  her  own  son,  that 
privilege  had  not  been  once  claimed  since  the  storm. 

This  thought  fell  like  a  shadow  amid  her  serene  con- 
tentment. She  began  to  wonder  at  this  strange  desertion, 
and  have  a  vague  consciousness  that  something  was  wrong 
between  them.  Still,  how  could  this  be  ?  Had  not  Har- 
rington saved  her  life  at  the  peril  of  his  own  ?  Was  not 
his  face,  full  of  agonized  hope,  bending  over  her  when  she 
awoke  from  the  midnight  of  the  deep  ? 

Mabel  gave  a  sudden  start,  and  her  eyes  took  an  expres- 
sion of  alarm.  What  if  he  were  ill  ?  What  if  the  terrible 
exertions  of  that  night  had  overpowered  him,  and  all  this 
was  kept  from  her  knowledge  ?  Starting  up  under  the 
excitement  of  this  apprehension,  she  was  approaching  the 
door,  when  it  opened,  and  Agnes  Barker  came  in.  The 
young  woman  looked  more  than  usually  excited  that  morn- 
ing. The  fire,  which  always  lay  smouldering  in  her  evasive 
eyes,  was  kindled  up,  and  a  flush  lay  redly  on  her  cheek,  an 
evil  flush,  such  as  we  may  imagine  the  poison  in  a  laurel 
plant  to  spread  over  its  blossoms.  In  her  hand  she  held  a 
few  leaves  of  verbena  and  rose  geranium,  encircling  a 
white  rose-bud,  and  a  crimson  rose,  which  had  evidently 
been  arranged  with  considerable  care. 


138  Mabets   Mistake. 

Mabel  moved  back  to  her  seat,  overcome  by  that  strange 
thrill  of  repulsion  which  always  troubled  her  at  the  ap- 
proach of  this  girl. 

"  Who  sent  them  ? "  she  inquired,  with  a  gleam  of 
pleasure,  as  she  saw  the  exquisite  bouquet,  "  who  sent 
them?"  and  with  a  look  half  wistful,  half  pleased,  she 
reached  out  her  hand.  Agnes  withheld  the*  bouquet, 
smiling : 

•'  I  fear  to  give  offence  were  I  to  part  with  it,  even  to 
you,  madam.  It  was  intended  for  me,  I  believe." 

Mabel  drew  back  her  hand,  stung  by  the  smile,  and 
recoiling  proudly  from  any  further  question.  A  faint  flush 
of  self-reproach  stole  up  to  her  forehead,  for  her  heart  had 
leaped  back  twenty  years,  when  rose  buds  buried  in  fra- 
grant leaves  had  been  the  mystic  language  by  which  her 
heart  read  the  pulses  of  another. 

Agnes  stood  before  her  gazing  down  into  the  tiny 
bouquet  with  apparent  unconsciousness  of  the  feelings  she 
had  aroused,  and  with  a  smile  quivering  about  her  lips,  she 
began  blowing  dreamily  into  the  half  open  bud,  till  it 
fluttered  apart,  and  took  an  unhealthy  bloom  from  her  hot 
breath. 

"  Don't — it  will  sicken  and  droop,"  said  Mabel,  who 
could  never  see  a  flower  rudely  touched,  without  a  sensation 
that  it  must  feel  a  pang. 

"  But  I  shall  have  it  in  full  bloom  while  it  lasts," 
answered  the  governess,  "  and  when  that  is  gone,  more  will 
come :  I  like  things  that  flash  into  a  glow  and  out  again." 

Mabel  was  surprised ;  the  girl,  hitherto  so  retiring  and 
quiet,  had  all  at  once  taken  an  air  of  authority.  There 
was  something  in  the  speech  that  shocked  the  heart  more 
than  the  ear,  and  the  sensitive  woman  felt  a  thrill  of  pain 
as  she  saw  Agnes  tear  off  a  leaf  from  the  crimson  rose — 
place  it  between  her  lips — and  fasten  the  cluster  in  her 
bosom.  The  quiet  self-possession  with  which  she  did  all 


MabeFs  Mistake.  1<9 

this,  was  so  unlike  her  usual  manner,  that  Mabel  eat 
regarding  her  in  silent  astonishment. 

When  Agnes  had  arranged  the  flowers  to  her  satisfaction, 
she  looked  up. 

"  I  beg  pardon,"  she  said,  "  for  intruding,  but  Mr.  Har- 
rington told  me  that  Lina  was  in  here,  and  I  hurried  to 
join  her,  Tearing  that  my  walk  after  breakfast  had 
encroached  on  the  hour  for  lessons." 

"  Miss  Lina  has  just  left  me,"  answered  Mrs.  Harrington, 
coldly,  but  with  a  quiver  of  the  voice,  "  you  will  find  her 
with  my  son  somewhere  about  the  grounds,  I  fancy." 

Agnes  looked  out  of  the  window,  casting  sharp  glances 
over  that  portion  of  the  grounds  which  it  commanded. 

"  Oh,"  she  said,  "  yes,  it  is  a  heavenly  day — what  a  pity 
that  you  cannot  go  out,"  and,  with  a  little  haste  in  her 
manner,  Agnes  left  the  room. 

Mabel  looked  out  of  the  window,  in  time  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  James  Harrington  walking  slowly  and  thought- 
fully towards  the  shore.  Directly  Agnes  Barker  joined 
him,  and  they  seemed  to  enter  into  conversation,  but 
moved  on,  and  were  soon  out  of  sight. 

He  was  not  ill  then,  but  avoided  her  purposely,  and  took 
long  strolls  with  that  strange  girl.  More  and  worse — no 
other  hand  could  have  arranged  those  rose  buds.  Years  and 
years  ago,  she  had  worn  such  buds  and  leaves,  tint  for  tint, 
upon  her  own  bosom.  Alas,  that  the  memory  gave  her  so 
much  anguish. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

BEN    BENSON    GIVES    AN    OPINION. 

MABEL   went  back   into  the  room  sick  and  faint;  her 
heart  was  en:  eloped  in  shadows  again. 


1-10  Mabels  Mistake. 

Another  knock  at  the  door,  a  rambling  tin.  *d  knock,  as  if 
every  knuckle  of  a  great  hand  lent  its  OWD  sourd  to  the 
wood.  Mabel  was  impatient  and  cried  out,  "^ome  m,  come 
in." 

The  door  half  opened  and  closed,  opened  again,  and  a 
huge  foot  was  planted  on  a  cluster  of  roses  in  the  carpet. 
Another  foot  appeared,  and  our  old  friend  Ben  presents1 
himself  with  a  small  basket  on  his  arm,  and  a  huge  bouque 
of  wild  flowers  in  hand. 

"  I  beg  pardon,  marm,"  said  the  honest  fellow,  taking  ofT 
his  tarpaulin  and  setting  it  down  by  the  door,  "  I  begs  any 
amount  of  pardons  for  this  here  intrusion,  but  I  thought 
that  you'd  like  to  see  these  ere  shiners  afore  the  cook  spiled 
their  beauty  on  the  gridiron;  besides  I  found  some  blue 
asters  ard  a  tuft  of  golden-rod  in  a  holler  of  the  woods  that 
the  frost  hasn't  found  out  yet,  and  tied  'em  up  ship  shape, 
thinking  as  you  might  like  the  smell  on  'em,  now  that 
they've  got  so  scarce." 

The  quick  tears  sprung  into  Mabel  Harrington's  eyes. 
She  held  out  her  hand  with  that  beaming  expression  of 
face  which  rendered  her  at  times  more  than  beautiful. 

"  Ben,  my  good  old  friend,  you  helped  to  save  my  life ; 
how  can  I  ever  thank  you  enough ! " 

Ben  took  the  white  hand  in  his  huge  grasp  tenderly  as  if 
it  had  been  a  newly-fledged  dove.  "  Don't,  don't,  now,  I 
can't  stand  it,  that  ere  look  knocks  the  pins  from  under  me, 
circumvents  me  into  a  lubberly  boy  again.  What  was  Ben 
Benson — the  old  scoundrel  about,  that  he  didn't  do  the  hull 
thing  hisself  ?  Don't  hurt  the  poor  feller's  feelins  by  thank- 
ing him  for  what  he  didn't  do — he's  ashamed  of  hisself, 
and  hain't  done  nothing  but  rip  and  tear  at  hisself  for  a 
sneak  and  coward  ever  since." 

"  Oh,  Benson,  don't  abuse  yourself  in  this  manner — I 
cannot  speak  all  my  thankfulness — I  can  never  do  enough 
for  you.  Sometimes,  Ben,  sometimes,  I  think  you  are  the 


Mabel's  Mistake.  141 

best,  almost  the  only  true  friend  that  I  have  on  earth — that 
is  among  the  old  friends,  Ben." 

Her  eyes  were  full  of  tears.  She  pressed  Ben's  hard 
hand  with  her  white  fingers. 

"  He'd  die  for  you — that  ere  old  weather-beaten  chap — 
he'd  die  for  you  any  minute,  and  never  ask  the  reason  ;  but 
don't  talk  to  him  in  that  ere  way — it'll  break  his  heart  if 
you  do.  His  eyes  have  sprung  aleak  already,  and  no  pump 
rigged,  nothing  to  help  hisself  with,  but  the  cuff  of  his 
coat ! " 

"  Well,  well,  I  will  not  vex  you  with  my  thanks ;  but  re- 
member, good  friend,  I  must  always  feel  them.  Now  tell 
me  what  you  have  got  in  the  basket.  Something  nice  or 
beautiful,  I  daresay,  for  you  bring  the  breath  of  the  hills  in 
your  very  clothes." 

Ben  sat  down  his  basket,  with  a  glow  of  satisfaction,  and 
proceeded  to  display  its  contents :  first,  he  removed  a  layer  of 
crimson  maple  leaves,  presenting  a  surface  of  bright  golden 
tints  underneath,  which  were  daintily  lifted  from  a  bed  of 
the  softest  and  greenest  moss  in  which  a  pair  of  superb 
speckled  trout  lay  softly  embedded.  Ben  looked  up  with  a 
broad  smile,  as  Mabel  touched  their  spotted  sides,  gleaming 
up  through  the  delicate  green,  as  if  the  gorgeous  coloring 
of  the  leaves  which  lay  heaped  upon  the  marble  console  had 
struck  through,  leaving  prismatic  stains  behind. 

"I  thought,"  said  Ben,  peering  affectionately  down  into 
the  basket,  "  that  a  pair  of  these  ere  beauties  might  tempt 
you  into  eating  something.  I've  been  a  watching  'em  a 
good  while  in  the  holler  of  the  rocks,  just  above  where  Miss 
Barker's  mammy  lives.  The  brook  that  comes  down  by  the 
side  of  her  house  is  as  pure  as  ice,  and  almost  as  cold,  and 
that's  the  kind  of  water  for  fellers  like  this.  Ain't  they 
smashers,  now?  More'n  a  foot  long,  both  on  'em,  and 
sparkling  like  a  lady's  bracelet." 

"  Thank  you,  thank  you.      They  will  be   delicious.     I 


142  MabeFs   Mistake. 

have  tasted  no  breakfast  yet.  Tell  the  cook  to  prepare  one 
for  me." 

"  Will  you  have  the  goodness  to  trust  that  ere  to  Ben 
Benson,  marm,  and  he'll  see  that  there's  no  mistake  this 
time.  That  same  awkward  chap  brought  a  pair  of  shiners 
just  like  these,  from  the  brook  last  night,  and  instid  of  git- 
ting  in  here,  as  he  expected  they  would,  what  does  he  see 
but  that  ar3  gov'rness  a-carrying  them  up  in  a  silver  platter 
to  General  Harrington's  room,  as  if  he'd  been  sick,  and  not 
the  lady.  If  you've  no  objection,  marm,  Ben  Benson  '11 
sarve  these  ere  fellows  hisself,  for  the  brook  hasn't  got 
another  of  the  same  sort,  if  he  beat  brush  for  'em  a  week." 

"  You  are  always  kind,"  answered  Mabel,  "  and  it  won't 
be  the  first  time  you  have  turned  cook  in  my  behalf.  Do 
you  remember,  Ben,  doing  like  services  for  me  in  Spain, 
years  ago,  when  you  insisted  on  leaving  the  ship,  and  turn- 
ing courier  for  us  all  ?  " 

"Don't  I,  now?"  said  Ben,  and  his  face  brightened  all 
over.  "  Didn't  Ben  Benson  ?  He  was  a  smartish  young- 
ster then.  Didn't  he  use  to  scour  their  skillets  and  sase- 
pans,  to  git  the  garlic  out  on  'em  ?  But  it  wasn't  of  no 
use,  that  ere  garlic  strikes  through  and  through  even  hard 
iron  in  them  countries,  and  a'most  everything  you  touch 
tastes  on  it,  but  the  hard  biled  eggs  that  had  tough  shells 
to  'em,  as  I  used  to  bile  for  you  and  the  poor  sick  lady — 
they  stood  out  agin  it." 

Mabel  was  looking  sadly  downward,  and  a  troubled 
shadow  came  to  her  face  as  she  murmured — 

"  Poor  lady — poor  lady  !  How  she  suffered,  and  yet  how 
completely  her  disease  baffled  the  Spanish  physicians !  That 
was  a  hard  death." 

Ben  drew  close  to  his  mistress  as  she  spoke.  A  strange 
meaning  was  in  his  glance,  as  he  said,  impressively — 

"  Lady,  that  was  a  strange  death.  I've  seen  consumption 
enough,  but  :t  wasn't  what  ailed  her  I  " 


" Mabefs   Mistake.  143 

Mabel  lifted  her  eyes  and  looked  anxiously  at  the  honest 
face  bent  toward  her.  "How  can  you  think  so,  Benson  ?  " 
she  said. 

"Because  I  know  who  gave  that  lady  her  medicine 
o'nights,  when  you  and  the  rest  on  'em  were  in  bed,  and 
fast  asleep ;  and  I  know  that  one  time,  at  any  rate,  it 
wasn't  of  the  same  color  or  taste  as  that  the  doctor  left,  and 
she  give  it  ten  times  when  he  told  her  once.  I  didn't  think 
much  about  it  at  the  time,  but  since  then,  it's  constantly  a- 
corning  into  my  head." 

Mabel  turned  deathly  pale,  and,  yielding  to  a  sudden 
faintness,  sat  down. 

"  You  do  not  think — you  cannot  think  that  there  was 
really  any  neglect  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  say  nothing  about  neglect,  marm — there  wasn't 
much  of  that,  any  how,  for  the  poor  lady  never  had  a  min- 
ute to  herself.  That  ere  cream-colored  gal  was  always  a- 
hanging  over  her  like  a  pison  vine,  and  the  more  she 
tended  her,  the  sicker  she  grew — anybody  with  an  eye  to 
the  windward,  could  see  that  without  a  glass." 

"  Benson,  you  surprise — you  pain  me ! "  cried  Mabel, 
with  sudden  energy.  "  Great  Heavens,  what  could  have 
put  this  wild  idea  into  your  head  ?  " 

"  It  was  in  my  head  years  ago,  and  went  to  sleep  there," 
answered  Ben  impressively — "  but  the  sight  of  just  sich  a 
face,  and  just  sich  a  cretur,  all  but  the  color,  prowling  about 
this  ere  very  house — in  and  out  like  a  mouser — has  woke  up 
the  idee  agin,  and  my  own  mother  couldn't  sing  it  to  sleep, 
if  she  rose  from  the  dead  with  the  old  lol-lo-by  on  her  lips. 
I  wish  something  could  drive  it  away,  for  it's  all  the  time  a 
sighing  in  my  ear",  like  the  sound  of  waves  when  they  close 
over  a  corpse." 

"  It  is  a  terrible  thought,"  said  Ma,bel,  shuddering. 

"Now,  don't  go  to  turning  pale  nor  nothing,"  said  Ben, 
with  prompt  anxiety,  "  don't  take  it  to  heart,  no  how — just 
9 


144  Mabel's   Mistake. 

as  like  as  not,  it's  one  of  old  Ben  Benson's  sea-sarpents, 
that'll  float  off  the  minute  it's  touched,  and  if  it  does 
amount  to  any  thing,  ain't  that  individual  here  with  his 
face  to  the  wind,  and  his  hand  on  the  helm  ?  Only  do  be 
careful  what  you  eat  and  drink  here  alone,  if  that  ere  gov'r- 
ness  is  turning  waiter  for  you  or  the  general.  There's  a 
reason  for  it — be  sartain  of  that." 

"  How  foolish  all  this  is,"  said  Mabel,  striving  to  laugh. 

"  One  would  think,  Benson,  that  we  lived  in  Italy,  when 
the  Borgias  made  poison  an  amusement,  instead  of  being 
quiet  people  in  the  quietest  land  on  earth  !  " 

"  The  quietest  country  on  earth,"  answered  Ben,  reflecting 
over  her  words  with  a  hand  buried  amid  the  jack-knives, 
bits  of  twine,  and  lumps  of  lead,  in  his  deepest  of  deep 
pockets.  "  That  ere  sentiment  used  to  sound  beautiful  on 
a  Fourth  of  July,  when  I  was  a  shaver,  but  it's  took  after 
my  example,  and  out-grown  itself  a  long  shot.  Why, 
marm,  there  ain't  ere  a  day  but  what  some  poor  woman 
goes  through  a  post  mitimus,  and  two  or  three  men  are 
found  with  their  skulls  driv  in  by  sling  shot  down  in  the 
city,  to  say  nothing  of  them  that  never  git  under  the 
crouner's  hands,  but  are  put  away  with  a  doctor's  pass,  into 
the  grave  that  somebody  should  be  hanged  for  filling.  I 
can't  go  out  a-fishing  on  the  Hudson  now,  marm,  without  a 
feeling  that  some  gang  of  rowdies  may  set  upon  me  and 
steal  my  boat.  I  can't  go  into  the  city  with  a  sartinty  that 
a  bowie  knife  won't  be  buried  in  my  side,  before  I  get 
home.  In  short,  marm,  I  don't  believe  in  calling  countries 
quiet  where  murders  and  amusements  go  hand  in  hand. 
America  was  a  peaceable  country  once,  but  it  ain't  that 
thing  no  longer.  Them  ere  Borgers,  as  I've  hearn,  did 
their  murders  softly  and  arter  dark,  and  it  won't  be  long 
afore  we  learn  to  do  the  thing  genteelly,  as  they  did.  I  tell 
you,  marm,  I  don't  like  strangers  a-running  about  this 
house  while  you  and  Miss  Lina  live  in  it.  Ain't  the  old 


MabeFs  Mistake.  145 

sarvants  enough — What  have  they  done  to  be  turned  out 
of  doors  ?  " 

"  Who  has  been  turned  out  of  doors,  Benson  ?  No  one 
by  me,"  said  Mabel,  a  good  deal  surprised  by  this  ha- 
rangue. 

"  No,  marm — but  they're  dropping  out  of  their  places 
softly  inarm,  as  the  leaves  fall  out  yonder,  without  the  least 
idee  what  wind  strikes  'em»  Yesterday,  the  old  cook,  as  has 
been  in  your  kitchen  twenty  years,  got  her  discharge. 
To-morrow,  for  anything  that  old  feller  knows,  Ben  Benson 
may  git  his  mitimus,  and  when  he  asks  to  see  the  lady  as 
he's  sarved  heart  and  soul  since  he  was  a  boy  a'most,  they'll 
tell  him  as  they  did  the  cook — that  this  ere  lady  is  sick,  and 
can't  be  troubled  with  such  matters." 

"And  have  they  discharged  my  cook — poor,  faithful 
Nancy  ?  Is  this  so,  Benson  ?  Who  has  done  it  ?  How 
dare  they ! "  cried  Mabel,  surprised  and  indignant. 
"Why  did  she  not  come  to  me?  Has  Nancy  really 
gone  ?  " 

"  Yes,  marm,  I  saw  her  mj^self  go  off  to  the  city,  with  a 
bandbox  under  her  arm,  and  a  man  behind,  carrying  her 
trunk." 

"  But  what  was  her  offence  ?  " 

"  She  didn't  keep  the  General's  woodcocks  quite  long 
enough  to  make  'em  tender — sarved  'em  up  too  fresh  and 
sweet — I.  don't  know  of  nothing  else  that  they  brought 
agin  her." 

"  And  she  has  gone — actually  gone  !  " 

"  Bag  and  baggage,  marm ;  they  made  clean  work  of 
it." 

"  They  ?  Of  whom  do  you  speak  ?  Not  of  Lina,  not 
of  Mr.  Harrington — who,  but  the  General,  himself,  would 
dare  to  discharge  my  servants?" 

"  In  course,  nobody  but  the  old  Gineral  could  do  it ;  but 
that  are  gov'rness,  marm,  as  has  been  a  whispering  with 


146  MabeVs  Mistake. 

him  in  his  room  and  out  on  it,  ever  since  you've  been  shut 
up  here.  She's  been  a-doing  some  of  that  ere  Borger 
work  in  a  new  way,  pizening  the  mind,  instead  of  the 
stomach.  Since  that  ere  black-eyed  pussy-cat  came  here 
and  got  to  mousing  around,  there  hasn't  been  a  mite  of 
comfort  anywhere,  in-doors  or  out.  The  very  boat,  as  was 
as  kind  a  craft  as  ever  tuk  to  water's  got  to  running  con- 
trary, and  is  allus  cutting  across  currents,  and  tussling  agin 
the  wind.  It  ain't  Christian,  and  as  like  as  not,  it's  slan- 
dering the  poor  feller  to  say  it,  but  my  'pinion  is,  that  Ben 
Benson's  a-beginning  to  hate  that  ere  gal  like  pizon." 

Mabel  was  so  occupied  with  new  thoughts,  that  she  did 
not  hear  the  conclusion  of  this  speech,  but  sat  gazing 
steadily  on  the  carpet. 

"  What  can  all  this  mean,"  she  reflected.  "  The  General 
has  not  been  to  see  me  since  the  first  day  of  my  illness ; 
then  the  half  insolent  air  of  this  girl — the  discharge  of  my 
old  servant,  what  can  it  mean  ?  " 

"  More  'an  this,"  continued  Ben,  warming  up,  "  Nelly 
the  chambermaid  is  a  going.  She  says  that  things  don't 
suit  her,  and  she's  got  too  many  mistresses,  by  half,  for  her 
money  ! " 

"  This  is  very  strange,"  said  Mabel,  rising  with  that  firm 
moral  courage,  which  always  prompted  her  to  face  a  diffi- 
culty at  once.  '•'  Say  to  the  General,  that  I  wish  to  speak 
with  him." 

"  The  General  isn't  at  home  Mar'rn,  and  hasn't  been 
since  yesterday." 

"Very  well,  Benson,  I  shall  dine  with  the  family;  a 
household  always  goes  wrong  when  its  mistress  is  away." 

"  And  shall  I  cook  these  beauties  for  you  ?  "  inquired 
Ben,  gathering  up  the  moist  leaves,  and  laying  them  over 
the  trout  again,  with  pleasant  alacrity  ;  "  the  new  cook 
mayn't  know  how  to  manage  'em  ;  I  don't  want  to  flatter 
that  ere  conceited  feller — but  Ben  Benson  does  know  how 
to  cook  a  trout  arter  he's  catched  it" 


MabeVs   Mistake.  147 

"  Do  as  you  please,  Benson ;  they  will  certainly  taste 
better  from  your  hand  than  if  prepared  by  a  cook  whom  I 
have  never  seen." 

"  In  course  they  will,"  answered  Ben,  taking  up  his  bas- 
ket. "  I'll  go  down  to  the  kitchen,  and  get  things  under 
way.3' 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

A   RENEWAL    OF    CONFIDENCE. 

MABEL  saw  him  depart  alhiost  unconsciously.  The 
morning  had  been  one  of  surprises  and  painfully  conflicting 
feelings.  She  felt  that  a  crisis  in  her  life  had  arrived,  that 
the  time  for  dreamy  thoughts  and  gentle  endurance  was  at 
an  end,  and  her  strength  rose  to  meet  the  occasion.  The 
lassitude  and  nervous  reluctance  to  give  up  her  seclusion 
which  had  oppressed  her  of  late,  gave  way,  and  with  that 
dignity  which  is  born  of  womanly  self-command,  she 
changed  her  toilet,  and  passed  from  the  solitude  of  her  sick 
room. 

The  sitting-room  which  we  described  in  a  chapter  of  this 
narration  was  empty  when  Mrs.  Harrington  entered  it. 
The  luxurious  easy-chairs  stood  about  the  floor,  as  if 
recently  occupied,  and  the  fire  of  hickory-wood  burned 
brightly  behind  a  fender  of  steel  lace-work  that  broke  the 
light  in  a  thousand  gleams  and  scattered  it  far  out  on  the 
moss-like  rug.  Everything  was  as  she  had  left  it,  even  to 
the  position  of  her  own  easy-chair  in  a  corner  of  the  bay 
window,  but  the  absence  of  all  living  objects  chilled  her, 
and  a  presentiment  of  perpetual  loneliness  crept  slowly  to 
her  heart,  as  she  sat  down,  looking  out  of  the  window  with 
that  peculiar  vividness  of  interest  which  we  always  feel  ill 
seeing  familiar  objects  after  convalescence. 


148  Mabels   Mistake. 

The  gorgeousness  and  wealth  of  the  autumn  had  gone  hy 
during  her  illness ;  a  few  red  and  golden  trees,  contrasted 
with  the  hemlocks  and  pines  in  sheltered  hollows ;  hut,  on 
the  hill-tops,  half  the  trees  had  cast  off  their  leaves,  while 
those  which  clung  to  the  houghs  had  lost  all  their  vivid 
tints,  and  thrilled  mournfully  to  every  breath  of  wind,  like 
humanity  trembling  at  the  approach  of  death. 

But  the  calm  flow  of  the  Hudson  was  the  same.  Its 
hills  might  be  stripped  of  their  affluent  foliage,  the  grass 
grow  crisp  along  its  hanks,  but  this  had  no  effect  on 
the  grand,  old  stream,  that  flowed  on  ever  the  same,  like 
that  river  of  Christian  faith  that  Mabel  fed  from  the 
humble  springs  of  a  heart,  already  smitten  down  to  its 
deepest  waters. 

She  was  a  strong  woman,  that  Mabel  Harrington,  and 
knew  well  that  no  trouble  could  fall  upon  her,  of  which  she 
had  not  already  tasted  the  bitterness,  and  lived. 

But  the  flow  of  those  waters,  gliding  by  her  ever  and 
returning  no  more,  filled  her  with  mournfulness.  She  felt 
like  a  pilgrim  who  drops  his  scrip  on  the  wayside  for  a 
moment's  rest,  and  dreads  the  hour  when  he  must  take  it 
up  and  toil  on,  with  a  patient  hope  of  finding  some  shrine 
at  which  he  may  repose,  though  none  is  in  sight. 

"  Well,"  she  murmured  with  a  patient  smile,  which  came 
across  her  mobile  features  with  a  gleam  of  heavenly  beauty, 
"  Let  it  flow  on,  this  earthly  life  ;  be  it  laggard  or  fast,  the 
moments  that  we  leave  behind  but  send  us  onward  with  a 
swifter  speed.  The  descent  grows  steeper  every  day,  and 
years  rush  on  impetuously,  as  hours  did  in  that  beautiful 
time  of  youth.  The  stream  of  life  was  impetuous  then. 
Now  it  is  slow  and  powerful,  nor  stops  to  foam  and  ripple 
at  the  troubles  that  are  always  falling,  like  drift-wood  upon 
it." 

Thus  Mabel  mused  within  herself — confident  that  some 
stern  trial  was  at  hand,  but  resolved  to  meet  it  steadily, 


Mabets   Mistake.  149 

and  trust  to  God  for  help.  She  needed  such  help ;  for,  in 
solemn  truth,  the  great  battle  of  her  life  was  at  hand. 

The  door  opened  softly  behind  her,  as  she  sat  gazing  upon 
the  river.  The  back  of  her  chair  was  toward  him,  and 
James  Harrington  saw  only  the  garments  of  a  female  flow- 
ing downward  to  the  carpet ;  and,  thinking  that  it  was  Lina, 
he  came  into  the  room.  He,  too,  had  been  gazing  upon 
the  scene  without,  and  thoughts  kindred  to  those  stirring 
in  Mabel's  heart,  and  left  him  sad  and  gentle  as  a  child. 

" Lina,  my  sweet  child,"  he  said  approaching  the  chair, 
"  I  am  glad  to  find  you  in-doors." 

Mabel  started  at  the  sound  of  his  voice,  with  a  quick 
leap  of  the  heart ;  then,  she  arose  slowly  and  stood  up, 
holding  forth  her  hand,  as  a  sister  might  claim  congratula- 
tions of  her  brother  after  illness. 

"  It  is  not  Lina,  James,  but  one  whom  you  will  not  be 
less  pleased  to  see,  I  am  sure.  How  is  this  ?  You  look 
pale  and  careworn,  my  friend  ;  have  you,  also,  been  ill  ?  " 

For  one  instant,  the  flash  that  lighted  up  Harrington's 
eyes  was  dazzling — the  next,  he  grew  calm  again ;  but  the 
expression  of  his  face  was  unutterably  mournful. 

"  I  had  a  very  long  walk ;  the  fine  weather  tempted  me 
too  far,"  he  said,  with  a  faint  smile,  relinquishing  her  hand 
almost  the  moment  it  was  taken. 

He  did  not  inquire  after  her  health,  but  stood  for  a  mo- 
ment, thoughtfully  regarding  her. 

Mabel  smiled,  and  instantly  his  own  features  grew 
luminous. 

"  I  am  glad,  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you  so  much  better," 
he  said,  yielding  to  the  old  friendly  habit ;  "  it  has  been 
very  lonely  without  you." 

"I  hope  you  missed  me,"  said  Mabel,  the  pure  joy  of 
an  affectionate  heart  breaking  over  her  face.  "  That  was  a 
fearful  night,  Harrington." 

"It  was,  indeed,  fearful.     I  shudder  to  remember  that 


150  Mabels   Mistake. 

night.  It  seems  impossible  to  imagine  anything  more 
dreadful  than  the  scene,  as  that  steamer  ploughed  over  your 
boat.  When  you  came  up,  with  the  blue  lightning  quiver- 
ing around  you,  the  rocks  seemed  to  reel  under  my  feet. 
Nothing  but  the  power  of  God  could  have  saved  you  then." 

"  I  remember — I  knew  it  all,"  said  Mabel,  lifting  her 
clasped  hands  gratefully  upward.  "The  last  thing  that  left 
me,  was  your  figure  on  the  rock ;  no,  not  on  the  rock,  but 
midway  between  me  and  the  bleak  waves.  I  tried  to 
scream,  but  the  waters  choked  me." 

Harrington  took  her  hand,  and  wrung  it  with  unconscious 
warmth. 

"  Thank  God,  it  is  over,"  he  said  fervently. 

"I  do  thank  God,  first,  that  I  am  alive,  and,  then,  that  it 
was  one  of  our  own  household  that  saved  me.  But  this 
coming  back  from  death,  it  is  full  of  pain,  to  which  the 
last  agony  seems  but  little.  The  scene  around  that  old  tree 
haunts  me  yet." 

"  And  me,"  said  Harrington,  thoughtfully. 

"  You  all  looked  so  strange  and  wild,  I  could  not  compre- 
hend the  identity  of  any  one.  Even  Ben  Benson  appeared 
like  an  angel  luminous  from  Heaven,  and  that  cedar  a 
pillar  of  holy  flame,  around  which  he  ministered." 

"  You  did  not  know  any  of  us,  then  ? "  inquired  Har- 
rington, eagerly. 

"  I  did  not  know  myself,  for  I,  too,  seemed  like  an  angel, 
bound  to  love  everything  around  me,  as  heavenly  spirits 
do." 

"  Then  you  remembered  nothing  ?  "  questioned  Harring- 
ton, bending  his  earnest  eyes  upon  her  with  a  power  that 
would  have  won  the  truth  from  a  statue. 

She  did  not  blush  ;  her  eyes  looked  quietly  and  truthfully 
into  his,  and  a  pang  both  of  joy  and  regret  came  to  his 
heart,  as  he  regarded  the  innocence  of  that  look. 

"  It  was,  aJ'ter  all,  a  pleasant  hallucination,"  said  Mabel, 


Mabel's   Mistake.  151 

"  for  even  the  governess,  whom  I  do  not  much  like,  seemed 
transformed  into  a  seraph,  as  she  bent  over  me.  As  for 
Ben  Benson,  he  was  really  sublime." 

"  Thank  God  !  "  answered  Harrington,  but  the  exclama- 
tion was  followed  by  a  deep  sigh,  as  if  the  anxiety  preying 
upon  him  had  been  changed,  not  entirely  removed.  Still 
there  was  a  relief  and  freedom  in  his  manner,  as  he  drew  a 
chair  up  to  the  window,  and  fell  into  his  old  habit  of  talk. 

"  Why  is  it,"  inquired  Mabel,  "  that  you  have  not  once 
been  to  inquire  after  me  ?  It  was  very  strange." 

"  I  did  inquire  after  you  every  day,"  was  the  rather  em- 
barassed  answer. 

"  I  did  not  hear  of  it,"  said  Mabel,  easily  satisfied,  and 
too  happy  for  repining  at  anything. 

"  You  may  not  know,"  answered  her  companion,  "  that 
I  have  been  making  arrangements  to  go  abroad  ?  " 

"  Abroad  ?     But  when— why  ?  " 

"  Indeed,  it  seems  impossible  to  give  a  reason,  except  that 
my  health  seemed  to  require  change." 

"Your  health?" 

"  Eemember,  please,  that  your  first  remark  was  about  my 
looks." 

"But  you  are  not  really  suffering?  " 

"  Not  now — not  as  I  have  been." 

"  But  you  will  leave  us  ?  " 

Harrington  left  his  seat,  and  began  to  pace  the  room,  as 
was  his  habit,  when  conflicting  thoughts  beset  him.  Mabel 
followed  his  movements  sadly  with  her  eyes,  which  were 
eloquent  of  a  thousand  gentle  feelings. 

"  And  you  will  go  ?  "  she  said  at  last,  with  a  quiver  of 
the  voice.  "  You  will  leave  us  all  ?  " 

"  No,"  answered  Harrington  with  energy,  "  I  will  not 
go.  Why  undertake  a  pilgrimage  when  there  is  nothing 
to  ga'n,  and  nothing  to  avoid." 

"  Thank  you — thank  you,"  said  Mabel,  with  her  eyes  full 
of  tears. 


152  Mabets  Mistake. 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE   LOVE   SONG. 

THERE  was  a  slight  stir  in  the  hall,  and  Ralph  came  into 
Mrs.  Harrington's  room  followed  by  Lina,  both  brilliant 
and  smiling,  as  if  the  conservatory  in  which  they  had 
loitered  away  the  hours,  had  bathed  them  with  the  perfume 
of  its  blossoms. 

"  Oh,  mamma,  it  is  so  pleasant ! "  cried  Lina,  stealing 
forward  and  seating  herself  on  a  cushion  at  Mabel's  feet. 
"  Isn't  this  a  beautiful,  beautiful  day  ?  " 

"  All  days  are  beautiful  to  the  light-hearted,"  answered 
Mabel,  burying  her  hand  fondly  in  the  golden  curls  that 
fell,  a  perfect  network  of  light,  from  Lina's  drooping  head. 
"  I  thought  it  very  dull  and  heavy  this  morning  ;  now,  the 
air  seems  invigorating  as  old  wine.  Still,  I  think  the  day 
itself  has  changed  but  little." 

"  Hasn't  it  ? "  questioned  Lina,  looking  up  tenderly 
through  the  sunny  mist  of  her  hair.  "  But  you  are  so  much 
better,  and  look  so  blooming — perhaps  it  is  that." 

"  Perhaps,"  said  Ralph,  stooping  down  and  kissing  his 
mother's  forehead,  "  it's  because  we  are  all  together  again  ; 
even  this  room  seems  like  a  desert,  when  our  lady  mother 
is  absent.  This  should  be  a  gala  day  with  us ;  what  shall 
we  do,  Lina  ?  Crown  her  with  roses,  or  bring  an  offering 
of  fruit  and  nuts  from  the  hills." 

"  I  will  give  her  some  music,"  answered  Lina,  springing 
up  and  taking  her  guitar  from  a  sofa,  where  it  had  been 
lying,  neglected  and  untuned  ;  "  mamma  shall  have  a  sere- 
nade." 

Liua  flung  the  broad,  blue  ribbon  attached  to  the  guitar 
over  her  neck  ;  and,  seating  herself  again,  began  to  tune 
her  instrument,  with  her  pleasant  eyes  lifted  to  Mabel's 
face. 


Mabets   Mistake.  153 

"  Now,  what  shall  it  be  about,"  she  inquired,  casting  a 
half-coquettish  look  at  Kalph,  and  blushing  like  a  damask 
rose  beneath  the  brightness  of  his  eyes.  "What  shall  I 
sing  about,  mamma  ?  " 

"  Oh,  love,  sing  of  nothing  but  love,  to-day,  sweet  Lina," 
whispered  Ralph,  as  he  stooped  down  and  pretended  to 
adjust  the  ribbon  over  her  white  neck. 

"  Shall  I,  mamma  ?  "  said  Lina. 

"Sing  anything  that  pleases  you,"  answered  Mabel. 

"  Then  it  shall  be  some  lines,  mamma,  that  I  found  in 
an  old  book  in  the  library,  with  the  leaves  of  a  white  rose 
folded  in  the  paper.  It  was  yellow  with  age,  and  so  were 
the  poor,  dead  leaves.  I  took  it  to  my  room,  learned  it  by 
heart,  and  found  out  that  it  went  by  the  music  of  an  old  song 
which  Ralph  and  I  used  to  sing  together.  That  is  all  1 
know  about  love,"  continued  the  rogue,  with  a  blush  and 
a  glance  upward. 

"  Well,  well,  pretty  torment,  begin,"  whispered  Ralph, 
again  busy  with  the  ribbon.  • 

For  a  moment,  Lina's  little  hand  fluttered  like  a  bird 
over  the  strings  of  her  guitar;  then  it  made  a  graceful 
dash,  and  her  voice  broke  forth  : 

Like  a  water-lily  floating, 

On  the  bosom  of  a  rill, 
Like  a  star  sent  back  to  Heaven, 

When  the  lake  is  calm  and  still ; 
A  woman's  soul  lies  dreaming, 

On  the  stilly  waves  of  life, 
Till  love  comes  with  its  sunshine—* 

Its  tenderness  and  strife. 

Then  hope  grows  bright  and  glorious, 

Her  faith  is  deep  and  strong, 
And  her  thoughts  swell  out  like  music 

Set  to  a  heavenly  song; 
Her  heart  has  twined   its  being, 

And  awakes  from  its  repose 
As  that  water-lily  trembles 

When  its  chalice  overflows. 


154  MabeTs   Mistake. 

Then  she  feels  a  new  existence — 

For  the  loveless  do  not  live ! — 
The  best  wealth  of  the  universe 

Is  hers  to  keep  and  give — 
Wealth,  richer  than  earth's  golden  veins 

That  yield  their  blood  to  toil, 
And  brighter  than  the  diamond  lights 

That  burn  within  the  soil. 

Oh,  her  soul  is  full  of  richness, 

Like  a  goblet  of  old  wine 
Wreathed  in  with  purple  blossoms 

And  soft  tendrils  of  the  vine; 
Its  holy  depths  grow  luminous, 

Its  strings  are  sweet  with  tuna, 
And  the  visions  floating  through  it 

Have  the  rosiness  of  June. 

Oh,  she  counts  not  time  by  cycles, 

Since  the  day  that  she  was  bom ! 
From  the  soul-time  of  a  woman 

Let  all  the  years  be  shorn 
Not  full  of  grateful  happiness — 

Not  brimming  o'er  with  love — 
Not  speaking  of  her  womanhood 

To  the  Holy  One  above. 

Mabel  gave  a  start  as  the  first  words  of  this  melody  fell 
upon  her  ear,  and  the  slow  crimson  stole  over  her  face ;  she 
kept  her  gaze  steadily  on  the  carpet,  and  had  any  one  look- 
ed at  her,  the  sadness  of  her  countenance  must  have  been 
remarked.  But  the  young  people  were  occupied  with  each 
other,  and  James  Harrington  sat,  like  herself,  preoccupied 
and  listening.  As  Lina  broke  into  another  and  lighter  air, 
the  two  looked  up,  and  their  eyes  met.  The  blush  on 
Mabel's  cheek  spread  and  glowed  over  her  brow  and  tem- 
ples. She  arose,  and  went  to  the  window. 

"  You  have  heard  this  before,  I  think,"  said  Harrington, 
following  her. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Mabel,  regaining  self-control ;  "  and 
always  truthful.  I  remembered  it  at  once." 


Mabefs   Mistake.  155 

"  And  the  author  ?  " 

Again  Mabel  blushed.  "  Oh,  it  was  written  years 
ago." 

"  Then  you  were  the  author  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes ;  why  not.  I  wrote  a  great  many  trifles  like 
that  at  one  time." 

"  I  knew  it ;  I  was  sure  of  it." 

That  instant  the  governess  came  in,  followed  by  Fair  Star, 
who  began  to  plunge  and  caper  at  the  sight  of  his  mistress. 
Agnes  looked  keenly  at  Mrs.  Harrington's  flushed  face ; 
but,  the  covert  smile,  dawning  on  her  lip,  vanished,  as  she 
saw  Ralph  in  the  chair  his  mother  had  abandoned,  bending 
over  Lina ;  who  sat  upon  the  cushion,  trifling  with  her 
guitar,  from  which,  in  her  confusion,  she  drew  forth  a  broken 
strain,  now  and  then. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

A   MEETING   IN   THE   HILLS. 

"  MAMMY,  this  is  too  much.  I  can  endure  it  no  longer. 
You  keep  me  working  in  the  dark,  and  every  step  I  take 
but  adds  to  my  own  misery.  I  am  baffled,  defeated,  almost 
exposed,  and  yet  you  say,  go  on." 

Agnes  Barker  spoke  in  a  harsh,  angry  tone.  Her  eyes 
blazed  with  passion.  Her  features  had  lost  all  their  usual 
grace.  She  was  not  the  same  being  whom  we  saw  creeping 
softly  into  the  family  circle  at  General  Harrington's  with 
that  velvety  tread  and  sidelong  glance  of  the  eye. 

The  woman  who  stood  before  her,  regarded  this  out- 
break with  signs  of  kindred  impatience,  and  gathering  a 
vast  blanket  shawl  of  crimson  and  green  around  her  impos- 
ing figure,  she  stood  with  her  arms  wreathed  together  in 


MabeFs   Mistake. 

the  gorgeous  folds,  steadily  regarding  the  impetuous  young 
creature,  till  the  fury  of  her  first  onset  had  exhausted 
itself. 

They  had  met  upon  the  hill-side,  upon  the  very  spot 
where  Mabel  Harrington  rested  after  her  rescue  from  the 
Hudson,  and  the  charred  trunk  of  the  cedar  stood  like  a 
pillar  of  ruined  ebony,  just  behind  the  woman,  with  the 
sunset  playing  around  it,  and  spotting  the  rocks  behind 
with  flecks  and  dashes  of  golden  light. 

This,  with  naked  trees,  and  a  broken  hill  towering 
upward,  formed  a  back-ground  to  the  two  persons  who  had 
met  by  appointment,  and  who  always  came  together  with  a 
clash  which  made  each  interview  a  mental  and  moral 
storm. 

The  woman  remained  silent  for  a  moment  after  this  rude 
assault,  and  fixed  her  dark,  oriental  eyes  with  a  sort  of 
fascination  on  the  flushed  face  lifted  in  audacious  rebellion 
to  hers. 

"  Agnes,"  she  said  at  last,  "  I  am  weary  of  this  rebellion, 
of  this  rude  questioning.  In  intrigue,  as  in  war,  there  can 
be  but  one  commander,  and  there  must  be  implicit  obedi- 
ence." 

"  I  am  obedient — I  have  been  so  from  the  beginning," 
answered  the  girl,  yielding  to  the  frown  of  those  eyes, 
"  untTl  you  asked  me  to  stand  by  and  witness  the  triumphs 
of  a  rival — to  see  the  man  I  love  better  than  my  own  soul, 
better  than  ten  thousand  souls,  if  I  had  them,  parading  his 
passion  for  another  in  my  very  presence.  Till  you  asked 
this,  I  was  obedient,  but  I  can  endure  it  no  longer.  They 
are  torturing  me  to  death!" 

"  Not  to  death,"  said  the  woman  with  a  strange  smile. 
"  Women  who  love  as  you  can,  and  as  I  did,  have  no  power 
to  die.  Tortured  you  may  be  to  the  verge  of  the  grave, 
but  never  into  it.  Listen,  girl,  and  learn  how  charitable 
ami  just  the  world  is.  When  wrong  stings  the  soul  into 


Mabel's   Mistake.  ~i~l 

strength,  and  every  access  of  vitality  brings  an  addition;1.! 
pang  to  it,  while  you  would  gladly  call  on  death  as  a  com- 
forter, and  court  oblivion  as  a  second  heaven,  men  denounce 
you  for  the  very  strength  of  endurance  that  cannot  succumb 
to  trouble.  The  suffering  that  does  not  kill,  brings  forth  no 
compassion.  Struggle  is  nothing — endurance  is  nothing — • 
it  is  only  those  who  weakly  lie  down  and  perish,  that  can 
claim  charity  of  the  world,  and  then  it  comes  too  late. 
With  you  and  I,  Agnes,  love  is  destiny.  What  I  have 
been  and  am,  you  will  be.  Our  hearts  are  strong  to 
endure,  sensitive  to  feel,  and  quick  to  resent.  Time,  alone, 
divides  us  two.  Where  you  are  passionate,  I  am  strong. 
Where  you  would  act,  I  can  wait.  The  fire  of  my  own 
nature  breaks  out  too  vividly  in  your  girlish  bosom.  It 
must  be  suppressed,  or  quenched  altogether.  The  woman 
who  does  not  know  how  to  wait  and  watch,  should  die  of 
her  first  love,  and  let  school-girls  plant  daisies  on  her 
grave." 

Agnes  watched  the  impetuous  movement  of  those  features 
as  the  woman  spoke,  and  her  own  face  worked  in  harmony 
till  no  one  could  have  doubted  the  sympathy  existing 
between  them.  Her  eyes  lost  something  of  their  fire,  and 
took  that  deep,  smouldering  light  which  springs  from  a  con- 
centration of  will.  Her  arms  unconsciously  folded  them- 
selves on  her  bosom,  and  she  answered,  with  the  air  of  a 
princess —  _ 

"I  will  learn  to  wait.  Only  give  me  some  assurance  that 
Ralph  Harrington  shall  not  marry  that  girl." 

"He  never  shall  marry  her — is  that  enough  ?  " 

"  But  he  loves  her,  and  General  Harrington  has  con- 
sented, or  almost  consented." 

"  Ha  !  but  the  mother  ?  " 

"There  again  you  have  been  mistaken.  His  mother  has 
not  only  consented,  but  seems  rejoiced  at  the  attachment." 

"  But  you  told  me  that  she  fainted  at  the  very  idea." 


158  Mabefs  Mistake. 

"And  so  she  did,  but  in  less  than  twenty-four  hours 
after  we  met,  she  sanctioned  the  engagemont  with  a  joy 
that  surpassed  their  own." 

"  What !  in  your  presence  ?  " 

"  Not  exactly,"  answered  Agnes,  confessing  her  meanness 
without  a  blush.  "  I  took  advantage  of  the  flower-screen 
which  you  know  of,  and,  behind  the  plants,  with  the  help 
of  a  floating  curtain,  managed  to  hear  every  word,  and  to 
see  enough — more  than  enough." 

The  woman  seemed  surprised.  Her  brow  contracted, 
and  she  looked  hard  at  Agnes,  as  one  appears  to  search 
through  an  object  without  seeing  it,  when  the  mind  resolves 
a  new  idea. 

"  This  is  strange,"  she  said ;  "  I  had  more  faith  in  Mabel 
Harrington's  pride.  She  glories  in  her  son,  you  say — yet 
is  willing  to  marry  him  to  a  penniless  foundling." 

"And  is  Lina  a  foundling  ?  "  inquired  Agnes,  eagerly. 

The  woman  did  not  heed  her. 

"  I  would  not  believe  it,"  she  muttered — "  and  General 
Harrington — what  can  it  all  mean  ?  I  thought  one  might 
safely  calculate  on  his  family  pride." 

"  If  you  have  calculated  much  on  that,  it  is  all  over  with 
me,  I  can  tell  you,"  said  the  girl,  sullenly  unfolding  her 
arms.  "  I  do  not  think  General  Harrington  cares  much 
who  his  son  marries,  so  long  as  he  is  not  called  upon  for 
help.  You  tell  me  that  Mr.  James  is  the  millionaire. 
Ralph  will  be  independent  of  his  father  so  long  as  he  keeps 
on  the  right  side  of  the  richer  Harrington." 

"  Then  this  thing  is  settled,"  muttered  the  woman,  with 
her  eyes  cast  downward,  and  her  brows  gathered  in  a 
frown. 

"  Yes,  with  all  your  management,  it  is  settled." 

"You  are  mistaken,  girl.  Now,  I  will  teach  you  how 
much  faith  can  be  placed  on  a  woman's  promise.  Ralph 
Harrington  shall  not  marry  Lina  French." 


MabeVs   Mistake.  159 

Agnes  looked  suddenly  up.  The  woman's  face  was  com- 
posed and  confident ;  her  eyes  sparkled,  and  her  lip  curved 
proudly,  as  if  conscious  of  having  resolved  some  difficulty 
to  her  own  satisfaction. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  mammy  ?  How  can  you  prevent 
it?" 

"  I  will  prevent  it,  girl." 

"But,  how?" 

"  General  Harrington  shall  withdraw  his  consent." 

Agnes  laughed  rather  scornfully.  "  Shall  withdraw  his 
consent  ?  Who  will  make  him  ?  " 

"  As  a  reward  for  your  obedience,  you  shall  make  him." 

"  I,  mammy  ?  but  he  is  not  easily  won  upon  ;  the  Gene- 
ral has  strange  ideas  of  his  own,  which  one  does  not  know 
how  to  meet.  There  is  nothing,  it  seems  to  me,  so  unim- 
pressible  as  a  worldly  old  man — especially  if  he  has  had  all 
heart  polished  out  of  him  by  what  is  called  society.  It 
takes  a  great  deal  to  disturb  the  apathy  of  men  who  have 
settled  down  from  active  evil  into  selfish  respectability ;  and 
that,  I  take  it,  is  General  Harrington's  present  condition." 

"  Then,  the  influence  that  you  rather  boasted  of  has 
failed  of  late,  I  take  it,"  said  the  woman,  with  a  gleam  of 
the  eye  at  once  unpleasant  and  triumphant. 

Agnes  colored  with  mortified  vanity,  but  she  answered, 
with  a  forced  laugh  : 

"  A  young  girl  of  eighteen  does  not  care  to  waste  much 
energy  on  a  conceited  old  man,  at  any  one's  command. 
Still,  if  you  desire  it,  I  will  strive  to  be  more  agreeable." 

"No,"  answered  the  woman,  sharpty,  "I  will  control 
this  matter  hereafter  myself.  That  affair  of  the  journal 
was  badly  managed,  Agnes." 

"  I  did  the  best  in  my  power,"  replied  the  girl,  with  a 
tinge  of  insolence  in  her  manner.  "  But,  how  was  it  possi- 
ble to  force  a  knowledge  of  the  contents  on  the  old  man, 
after  I  had  denied  reading  the  bpok?  He  must;  haye 
10 


160  Mabels   Mistake. 

opened  at  some  unimportant  passage,  or  a  deeper  interest 
would  nave  been  excited." 

"  Are  you  certain  that  he  did  not  read  the  book  ?  "  de- 
manded the  woman. 

"  I  am  certain  that  it  lies  unlocked  in  a  drawer  of  his 
writing-desk,  this  moment,  where  I  saw  him  place  it,  while 
I  turned  to  ckse  the  library  door  after  me." 

"  But,  he  may  have  read  it." 

"  Impossible,  for  when  I  went  to  look,  an  hour  after,  one 
half  of  the  clasp  had  accidentally  been  shut  into  the  book, 
a  thing  that  could  not  happen  twice  in  the  same  way  ;  and 
there  it  lies  yet." 

The  woman  dropped  into  thought  an  instant,  with  her 
eyes  on  the  ground ;  a  shade  of  sadness  came  to  her  face, 
and  she  murmured  regretfully  : 

"  Indeed,  how  he  must  have  changed  :  one  so  passionate, 
so  suspicious,  so  " 

She  started  and  looked  up,  keenly  regarding  Agnes  Bar- 
ker, as  if  angry  that  these  broken  thoughts  were  overheard 
— angry  in  vain,  for  the  gentle  reminiscences  of  which  she 
was  ashamed  had  trembled  away  from  her  lips  in  a  deep 
sigh  ;  and  Agnes  only  saw  a  look  of  tender  trouble,  where 
suspicion  and  anger  had  been  a  moment  before. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

CONTINUED    PLOTTING. 

"  MAMMY,"  said  Agnes,  with  a  sudden  gush  of  sympa- 
thy, ''what  is  there  in  General  Harrington's  family  that 
interests  you  so  much  ?  " 

The  woman  answered  her  with  a  keen  glance  and  a  single 
word  : 


MabeCs  Mistake.  161 

"Everything  !" 

"  And  will  you  tell  me  nothing  ?  " 

"  No,  girl,  I  will  not  startle  your  nerves  and  confuse  your 
intellect  with  a  history  that,  as  yet,  you  could  not  under- 
stand. Do  not  importune  me  again ;  I  will  not  submit  to 
it," 

"  Then  I  will  do  nothing  more  !  "  said  Agnes,  petulantly. 

"I  do  not  intend  that  you  shall.  The  whole  thing  is,  I 
find,  beyond  your  management.  I  might  have  known  that 
your  first  step  would  be  to  fall  in  love  with  a  boy." 

"  Well,  and  if  I  did,  has  that  prevented  me  carrying  out 
all  your  directions  ?  " 

"  It  has  blindfolded  and  paralyzed  you — that  is  all ! " 

"  It  maddened  me  to  know  that  he  loved  another,  and  yet 
I  acted  with  coolness  throughout." 

"  What  was  this  penniless  boy  to  either  of  us,  that  you 
should  have  thwarted,  or,  at  least,  delayed  all  my  plans  for 
James  Harrington " 

"  He  is  all  the  world  to  me  !  "  cried  Agnes,  "  Worth  ten 
thousand  General  Harringtons  and  James  Harringtons.  1 
tell  you,  once  for  all,  I  would  not  many  that  solemn-faced 
bachelor,  with  all  his  millions,  if  he  were  at  my  feet  this 
instant." 

"  And  this  is  why  you  would  not  obey  the  directions  I 
gave,  regarding  your  conduct  toward  him  ?  " 

"  Obey  !  why,  everything  was  done  to  the  letter.  I  fol- 
lowed him  to  the  conservatory,  and  kept  him  half  an  hour 
that  morning  talking  over  Miss  Lina's  studies.  One  by 
one  I  gathered  the  flowers  so  often  mentioned  in  that  jour- 
nal, and  tied  them  in  a  bouquet,  which  I  offered  him ; 
blushing,  I  am  sure,  as  much  as  you  could  wish,  for  my  face 
burned  like  flame." 

"  Well,  did  he  take  the  flowers  ?  " 

"  He  turned  white  at  the  first  glance,  and  put  them  back 


162  Mabtts   Mistake. 

with  his  hand ;  muttering  that  the  scent  of  verbena  and 
roses  together,  always  made  him  faint." 

"  Ha  ! — he  said  that — he  turned  pale  ;  it  is  hetter  than  I 
expected  ? "  cried  the  woman,  eagerly.  "  Well,  what 
else  ?  " 

"Nothing  more.  He  went 'out  from  the  conservatory  at 
once,  leaving  me  standing  there,  half-frightened  to  death 
with  the  houquet  in  my  hand ;  but  I  turned  it  to  account." 

"  Well,  how  ?  " 

"  Why,  as  it  produced  so  decided  an  effect  in  one  quarter, 
I  concluded  to  make  another  experiment,  and  went  into 
Mrs.  Harrington's  houdoir  with  the  flowers  in  my  hand. 
She  saw  them — started  and  blushed  to  the  temples — hesi- 
tated an  instant,  and  then  held  out  her  hand ;  it  trembled 
like  a  leaf,  and  I  could  see  her  eyes  fill  with  moisture — not 
tears  exactly,  but  a  sort  of  tender  dew.  It  was  enough  to 
make  one  pity  her,  when  I  kept  back  the  bouquet,  saying, 
that  it  had  just  been  given  to  me." 

"  Well,  what  followed  ?  You  are  sure  it  was  the  flowers 
— that  she  recognized  the  arrangement  at  once?" 

"  It  could  be  nothing  else  ;  besides,  she  became  cold  and 
haughty  all  at  once.  The  blush  left  her  face  pale  as  snow, 
and  she  shrouded  her  eyes  with  one  hand,  as  if  to  shut  me 
and  my  flowers  out  from  her  sight.  I  saw  her  hand  shiver 
as  I  fastened  the  roses  upon  my  bosom ;  and  when  I  went 
out  into  the  grounds  a  short  time  after,  intending  to  join 
Mr.  Harrington  again,  a  curve  in  the  path  gave  me  a 
view  of  her  window — and  there  she  stood,  looking  out  so 
wistfully.  Determined  to  force  her  jealousy  to  the  utmost, 
I  hurried  up  to  Mr.  James  Harrington,  and  began  to  con- 
sult him  regarding  my  pupil's  exercise  and  lessons,  the  only 
subject  I  really  believe  that  he  could  have  been  induced 
to  speak  about,  for  he  seemed  terribly  depressed." 

"  And  she  stood  watching  you  all  the  time  ?  " 

"  Xo,  not  all  the  time  ;  for,  when  in  the  eagerness  of  my 


MabeFs   Mistake.  163 

subject — remember  I  am  deeply  interested  in  Lina's 
progress — I  readied  my  hand  towards  Mr.  Harrington's 
arm,  not  touching  it,  though  it  must  have  appeared  so  from 
the  distance,  she  disappeared  from  the  window,  as  if  a  ball 
had  struck  her ;  and  I  took  a  short  cut  through  the  shrub- 
beries, quite  satisfied  with  the  information  those  two  pretty 
roses  had  won  for  us.  Now,  say  if  I  have  been  altogether 
blind  or  inert  ?  " 

"  Indeed,  I  was  unjust  to  think  it ;  this  is  an  important 
point  gained.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  feelings  so  viv- 
idly recorded  in  that  journal  exist  yet;  this  knowledge 
opens  everything  to  us." 

"  Then  I  have  done  pretty  well  for  a  blind  girl,"  persisted 
Agnes,  with  a  touch  of  sarcasm  in  her  voice ;  "  give  me,  at 
least,  that  praise." 

"  With  one  exception,  child,  you  have  done  well  in 
everything." 

"  And  that  exception — I  know  what  you  mean,  but  where 
Ralph  Harrington  is  concerened,  I  will  not  be  controlled." 

"No  one  wishes  to  control  you,  foolish  girl.  Be  obedient 
and  adroit  as  you  have  been,  and  this  blue-eyed  girl  shall  be 
swept  from  your  path  like  thistle  downs." 

"  Ah,  do  this,  and  I  am  twice  your  slave  !  "  cried  Agnes, 
with  an  impulse  of  genuine  feeling,  flinging  her  arms 
around  the  elder  woman. 

"  And  you  love  him  so  much  !  "  said  the  woman,  return- 
ing her  caress  with  a  touch  of  sympathy — "  well,  child, 
well — since  the  reading  of  that  book  I  have  thought  better 
of  it.  It  may  be,  that  your  silly  caprice  "for  this  boy  can 
be  indulged  without  interfering  with  more  important 
objects.  This  first  love  is — well,  well,  no  matter  what  it  is, 
I  would  rather  not  turn  it  to  gall  in  the  bosom  of  a  young, 
girl.  So  trust  me,  Agnes,  and  be  faithful." 

"I  will!" 

"  Now,  listen,  child.  Have  you  settled  about  the  old 
servants  ?  " 


164  Mabel's   Mistake. 

"  Indeed  I  have.  The  cook  is  away  already — the  cham- 
bermaid discontented  and  going  to-morrow.  As  for  that 
uncoutli  boatman  and  factotum,  I  find  him  hard  to  manage 
— he  will  neither  take  offence,  nor  listen  to  anything  I  say." 

"  Let  him  pass.  It  will  not  do  for  us  to  frighten  off  too 
many  at  once.  But  the  new  cook — what  is  she  ?  " 

"  Fresh  from  Germany,  and  speaks  no  English." 

"That  will  do.  Now  listen.  You  must  intercede  with 
General  Harrington  for  your  poor  old  mammy,  up  yonder, 
as  chambermaid,  when  this  one  is  gone." 

Agnes  opened  her  eyes  wide,  and  a  low  laugh  broke  from 
her  lips,  that  were  at  first  parted  with  astonishment. 

"  Mammy,  what  can  you  mean  !  " 

The  woman  answered  as  much  by  the  crafty  smile,  that 
crept  over  her  face,  as  by  words. 

"  The  old  house  is  cold  and  lonely,  Agnes,  and  the  poor 
old  slave  will  be  much  more  comfortable  in  a  service-place 
for  the  winter,  you  understand.  She  must  have  the  place." 

"  In  real  earnest  ?  " 

"  In  real  earnest." 

"  Well,  it  shall  be  done — but  you  will  keep  your  word, 
this  time." 

"  Have  I  ever  broken  it  to  you  ?  " 

"I  don't  know;  in  fact,  until  the  whole  of  this  affair  is 
made  plain  to  me,  all  must  be  doubt  and  darkness.  I  know 
that  my  mission  is  to  leave  distrust  and  misery  wherever 
my  voice  reaches,  or  my  step  can  force  itself  in  that  house- 
hold— yet  they  have  all  been  kind  to  me,  and  most  of  all, 
the  lady  herself." 

"  She  kind  to  you  !  I  know  what  such  kindness  is.  A 
sweet,  gentle  indifference,  that  for  ever  keeps  you  at  arms' 
length,  or  that  proud  patronage  of  manner,  which  is  more 
galling  still.  Oh,  yes,  I  have  felt  it.  Such  kindness  is 
poison." 

"  I  did  not  find  it  so,"  said  Agnes,  with  a  touch  of  feel- 


Mabets   Mistake.  165 

ing,  "till  your  lessons  began  to  workN  Then,  acting  like  a 
traitor,  I  felt  like  one,  and  began  to  hate  those  I  wronged. 
But,  I  suppose  this  is  always  so." 

The  woman  laughed.  "You  turn  philosopher  early, 
young  lady.  Most  girls  of  your  age  are  content  to  feel  and 
act — you  must  stop  to  analyze  and  reflect.  It  is  a  bad 
habit." 

"  I  suppose  so — certainly  reflection  gives  me  no  pleasure," 
answered  the  girl,  a  little  sadly. 

"  Well,  well,  child,  we  have  no  time  for  sentiment,  now. 
The  sun  is  almost  down,  and  you  have  a  long  walk  before 
you — another  week,  and  if  you  manage  to  get  your  poor  old 
mammy  a  place,  we  need  not  chill  ourselves  to  death  in 
these  damp  woods.  She  will  bring  messages  back  and 
forth,  you  know ! " 

Agnes  shook  her  head,  and  laughed,  "Oh,  mammy, 
mammy ! " 

The  woman  mocked  her  laugh  with  a  sort  of  good- 
iiatured  bitterness.  "  There  now,  that  is  easily  managed, 
but  there  is  something  else  for  you  to  undertake ;  wait." 


CHAPTEE  XXVI. 

THE   NOTE   WITH   A    GREEN    SEAL. 

THE  woman  took  from  among  the  folds  of  her  dress,  a 
small  writing-case  of  satin  wood,  formed  like  a  scroll. 
Touching  a  spring,  she  opened  it,  took  out  implements  for 
writing,  and  some  note-paper,  which  emitted  a  faint  and 
very  peculiar  perfume,  as  she  began  to  write.  After  tracing 
a  few  hasty  lines,  she  folded  the  paper,  placed  it  carefully  in 
an  envelope,  and  proceeded  to  seal  it.  Taking  from  her 
pocket  a  singular  little  taper-box  of  gold,  covered  with 


166  Mabel's  Mistake. 

antique  chasing,  she  lighted  one  of  the  tapers,  and  dropped 
a  globule  of  green  wax  upon  her  note,  which  she  carefully 
impressed  with  a  tiny  seal  taken  from  another  compartment 
of  the  taper  box. 

Agnes  watched  all  this  dainty  preparation  with  a  look  of 
half-sarcastic  surprise.  When  the  note  was  placed  in  her 
hand,  she  examined  the  address  and  the  seal  with  parted 
lips,  as  if  she  would  have  smiled,  but  for  a  feeling  of  pro- 
found astonishment. 

"  To  General  Harrington.  The  seal  a  cupid  writing  on  a 
tablet.  Well,  what  am  I  to  do  with  this  ?  " 

"  Leave  it  upon  General  Harrington's  library-table  after 
breakfast,  to-morrow  morning — that  is  all." 

The  woman  arose,  folded  up  her  writing  case,  and  gather- 
ing the  voluminous  folds  of  her  shawl  from  the  moss,  where 
it  had  been  allowed  to  trail,  turned  away.  Agnes  watched 
her  as  she  disappeared  through  the  forest  trees  with  a  rapid 
step,  fluttering  out  her  shawl  now  and  then,  like  the  wings 
of  some  great  tropical  bird. 

"I  wonder  who  she  really  is,  and  what  she  would  be 
at  ?  "  muttered  the  girl.  "  Do  all  girls  distrust  so  much  ? 
Now,  this  note — shall  I  read  it,  and  learn  what  mystery 
links  her  with  the  family  up  yonder  ?  Why  not  ?  It  is 
but  following  out  her  own  lessons,  so  it  be  done  adroitly." 

Agnes  placed  her  linger  carefully  upon  the  envelope,  ard 
with  a  steady  pressure,  forced  it  from  under  the  wax. 

"  Ha !  neatly  done  ! "  she  exclaimed,  taking  out  the  en- 
closed, and  unfolding  it  with  hands  that  shook,  spite  of  her- 
self, "  and  a  fool  for  my  pains,  truly.  I  might  have  known 
she  would  baffle  me — written  in  cypher,  even  to  the  name. 
Well,  one  thing  is  certain,  that  my  witch  and  old  General 
Harrington  understand  each  other,  that  is  something 
gained.  If  I  had  but  time,  now,  to  make  out  these  charac- 
ters, and — and" — 

She   broke   off  almost   with   a  shriek,   for   a  hand  was 


MabeCs   Mistake.  167 

reached  over  her  shoulder,  and  the  note  taken  suddenly  from 
her  grasp,  while  she  stood  cowering  beneath  the  discovery 
of  her  meanness.  The  woman  whom  she  had  supposed  on 
the  other  side  the  hill,  stood  smiling  quietly  upon.  her. 
Not  a  word  was  spoken.  The  woman  took  out  her  taper 
box,  dropped  some  fresh  wax  beneath  the  seal,  and  smiling 
all  the  time,  handed  the  note  back  again. 

Agnes  turned  her  face,  now  swarthy  with  shame,  aside 
from  that  smiling  look,  and  began  to  plunge  her  little  foot 
down  angrily  into  the  moss,  biting  her  lips  till  the  blood 
came.  At  last,  she  lifted  her  head  with  a  toss,  and  turning 
her  black  eyes  boldly  on  the  woman,  said,  in  a  voice  of  half- 
tormenting  defiance,  "  Very  well,  what  if  I  did  open  it  ? 
My  first  lesson  was,  when  you  and  I  read  Mrs.  Harrington's 
letter.  If  that  was  right,  this  is,  also." 

"  Who  complained  ?  Who,  in  fact,  cares  ?  "  was  the 
terse  answer,  "  only  it  was  badly  done.  The  next  time  you 
break  a  seal,  be  sure  and  have  wax  of  exactly  the  same  tint 
on  hand.  I  thought  of  that,  and  came  back.  It  would 
ruin  all,  if  General  Harrington  saw  his  letters  tampered 
with." 

"  You  are  a  strange  woman ! "  said  Agnes,  shaking  off 
the  weight  of  shame  that  oppressed  her,  and  preparing  to 

g°- 

"  And  you,  a  strange  girl.  Now  go  home,  and  leave  the 
note  as  I  directed.  In  a  day  or  two  we  shall  meet  again. 
Almost  any  time,  at  nightfall  you  will  find  me  here.  Good 
night !  " 

"  Good  night,"  said  Agnes,  sullenly,  "  I  will  obey  you 
this  once,  but  remember  my  reward." 

Again  the  two  parted,  and  each  went  on  her  separate 
path  of  evil — the  one  lost  in  shadows,  the  other  bathed  in 
the  light  of  a  warm  sunset. 

It  did  not  strike  the  woman,  as  she  toiled  upward  to  her 
solitary  dwelling,  that  she  was  training  a  viper  which  would 


168  Mabel's   Mistake. 

in  the  end  turn  and  sting  her  own  bosom.  Her  evil  pur- 
poses required  instruments,  and  without  hesitation,  she  had 
gathered  them  out  of  her  own  life.  But,  even  now,  she 
found  them  difficult  to  wield,  and  hard  to  control.  What 
they  might  prove  in  the  future  remained  for  proof. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

GENERAL    HARRINGTON'S    CONFESSION. 

GENERAL  HARRINGTON  had  spent  a  good  many  years 
of  his  life  abroad,  and  no  American  ever  went  through  that 
slow  and  too  fashionable  method  of  expatriation  with  more 
signal  effect.  While  walking  through  the  rooms  peculiarly 
devoted  to  his  use,  you  might  have  fancied  yourself  intrud- 
ing on  the  privacy  of  some  old  nobleman  of  Louis  the 
Fourteenth's  court. 

His  bed  chamber  was  arranged  after  the  most  approved 
French  style,  his  dressing-room  replete  with  every  conceiv- 
able invention  of  the  toilet,  from  the  patent  boot-jack  with 
its  silver  mountings,  to  the  superb  dressing-case,  glittering 
with  gold  and  crystal,  everything  was  perfect  in  its  sump- 
tuousness.  In  his  own  house,  this  old  man  was  given  up 
to  self-worship,  without  a  shadow  of  concealment.  In 
society  the  graceful  hypocrisy  of  his  deportment  was  beau- 
tiful to  contemplate,  like  any  other  exhibition  of  the  high- 
est art.  If  benevolence  was  the  fashion,  then  General  Har- 
rington was  the  perfection  of  philanthropy.  Nay,  as  it 
was  his  ambition  to  lead,  the  exemplary  gentleman  some- 
times made  a  little  exertion  to  render  benevolence  the 
rage  !  His  name  often  lead  in  committees  for  charity  fes- 
tivals, and  he  was  particularly  interested  in  seeing  that  the 
funds  were  distributed  with  the  most  distinguished  elegance, 


Mabel's   Mistake.  169 

and  by  ladies  sure  to  dignify  humanity  by  distributing  the 
munificence  of  the  fashionable  world  in  flowing  silks  and 
immaculate  white  gloves. 

After  this  fashion,  the  General  was  a  distinguished  phil- 
anthropist. Indeed,  humanity  presents  few  conditions  of 
elegant  selfishness  in  which  he  was  not  prominent.  A 
tyrant  in  his  own  household,  he  had,  from  his  youth  up, 
been  the  veriest  slave  to  the  world  in  which  he  moved.  Its 
homage  was  essential  to  his  happiness.  He  could  not 
entirely  cheat  his  astute  mind  into  a  belief  of  his  own  per- 
fections, without  the  constant  acclamations  of  society.  As 
he  grew  old,  this  assurance  became  more  and  more  essential 
to  his  self-compiacency. 

The  General  studied  a  good  deal.  His  mind  was 
naturally  of  more  than  ordinary  power,  and  it  was  necessary 
that  he  should  keep  up  with  the  discoveries  and  literature 
of  the  day,  in  order  to  shine  as  a  savant,  and  belles-lettres 
scholar.  Thus  some  three  or  four  hours  of  every  day  were 
spent  in  his  library,  and  few  professional  men  studied 
harder  to  secure  position  in  life,  than  he  did  to  accumulate 
knowledge  which  had  no  object  higher  than  self-gratula- 
tion. 

Still,  with  all  his  selfishness  and  want  of  true  principle, 
the  General  was,  at  least,  by  education,  a  gentleman,  and 
he  would  at  any  time  have  found  it  much  easier  to  force 
himself  into  an  act  of  absolute  wickedness,  than  to  be 
thought  guilty  of  ill-breeding  in  any  of  its  forms.  In 
short,  with  General  Harrington,  habit  stood  in  the  place  of 
principle.  He  possessed  few  of  those  high  passions  that 
lead  men  into  rash  or  wicked  deeds,  and  never  was  guilty 
of  wrong  without  knowing  it. 

Unconsciously  to  herself,  Agnes  Barker  had  wounded  the 
old  man  in  his  weakest  point,  when  she  resented  his 
question  if  she  had  read  Mabel's  journal,  with  so  much 
pride.  This  haughty  denial  was  a  reproach  to  the  impulse 


170  Mabels   Mistake. 

that  had  seized  him  to  read  the  book  from  beginning  to  end. 
His  conscience  had  nothing  to  urge  in  the  matter,  but  the 
meanness  of  the  thing  he  intended,  struck  him  forcibly, 
and  after  a  moment's  hesitation,  lie  closed  the  journal  and 
laid  it  in  a  drawer  of  his  desk.  Thus,  by  affectation  and 
over-acting,  the  girl  defeated  her  object,  much  to  her  own 
mortification.  The  passage  on  which  General  Harrington 
had  opened  at  random,  was  in  itself  harmless,  a  warm  and 
somewhat  glowing  description  of  a  passage  up  the  Guadal- 
quivir in  the  spring  months,  had  nothing  in  it  to  provoke 
farther  research,  and  the  General  seldom  read  much  from 
mere  curiosity.  Certainly,  the  book  might  contain  many 
secret  thoughts  and  hidden  feelings  of  which  Mabel's  hus- 
band had  never  dreamed,  but  it  was  many  years  since  the 
old  gentleman  had  taken  sufficient  interest  in  the  feelings 
of  his  wife  to  care  about  their  origin  or  changes,  and  so, 
Mabel's  precious  book,  in  which  so  many  secret  thoughts 
were  registered,  and  memories  stored,  lay  neglected  in  her 
husband's  desk. 

Fortunately,  she  was  unconscious  of  her  loss.  Some- 
times for  months  together,  she  shrank  from  opening  the 
escritoir  in  which  the  volume  was  kept.  At  this  period, 
she  was  under  the  reaction  of  a  great  excitement,  and 
turned  with  a  nervous  shudder  from  anything  calculated  to 
remind  her  of  all  the  pain  which  lay  in  the  past. 

Another  reason,  perhaps,  why  General  Harrington  was 
less  curious  about  his  wife's  journal  than  seemed  natural  to 
his  tempters,  lay  in  his  own  preoccupation  at  the  time. 
One  of  his  youthful  vices  had  grown  strong,  and  rooted 
itself  amid  the  selfishness  of  his  heart ;  all  other  sins  had 
so  cooled  down  and  hardened  in  his  nature,  that  with  most 
men  they  might  have  passed  for  virtues,  the  evil  was  so 
buried  in  elegant  conventionalisms ;  but  one  active  vice  he 
still  possessed,  always  gleaming  up  from  the  white  ashes  of 
his  burnt  out  sins,  with  a  spark  of  vivid  fire. 


Mabels  Mistake.  171 

General  Harrington  was  a  gambler.  Understand  me — 
it  is  not  probable  that  he  had  ever  entered  a  gambling  hall 
openly  or  frankly  since  his  youth,  or  ever  sat  down  with 
swindlers  or  professed  blacklegs  around  the  faro  table.  The 
General  was  altogether  too  fastidious  in  his  vices  for  that. 
No,  he  rather  plumed  himself  secretly  upon  the  aristocratic 
fashion  in  which  he  indulged  this  most  lasting  remembrance 
of  a  reckless  youth. 

The  club  life  of  England  had  always  possessed  great  fas- 
cinations for  this  fine  old  republican  gentleman,  and,  he  was 
among  the  first  to  introduce  the  system  in  New  York. 
Here,  his  naturally  fine  energies  had  been  vigorously  put 
forth,  and  he  became  not  only  a  prominent  member  of  an 
aristocratic  club,  but  a  principal  director  and  supporter 
also. 

At  this  lordly  rendezvous,  the  General  spent  a  great  por- 
tion of  his  time,  and  somehow,  I  do  not  .pretend  to  point 
out  the  direct  process,  for  it  was  generally  understood  that 
no  high  play  was  sanctioned  in  the  establishment,  and  the 
mysterious  glances  and  half-murmurs  which  transferred  five 
dollar  notes  into  five  thousand,  as  the  harmless  games  pro- 
ceeded, are  not  capable  of  an  embodiment — but,  it  chanced 
very  often,  that  General  Harrington  found  a  transfer  of 
funds  necessary  after  one  of  these  club  nights,  and  once  or 
twice,  a  rather  unpleasant  interview  with  Mr.  James  Har- 
rington had  been  the  result. 

But  these  unsatisfactory  consequences  seldom  arose.  The 
General  was  too  cool  and  self-controlled  to  be  always  the 
loser,  and  up  to  the  time  of  our  story,  this  one  active  vice 
had  rather  preponderated  in  favor  of  his  own  interests. 

But  a  rash  adventure,  and  a  sudden  turn  of  fortune, 
reversed  all  this  in  a  single  night ;  and  General  Harrington 
— who  possessed  only  the  old  mansion-house,  and  a  few 
thousand  a  year  in  his  own  right — all  at  once  found  himself 
involved  to  more  than  the  value  of  his  family  horn?,  and 


172  MabeVs  Mistake. 

two  years  income  in  addition.  Close  upon  this,  came  that 
fearful  accident  upon  the  river — and,  worse  still,  the  appli- 
cation of  his  son  to  marry  a  penniless  little  girl,  whose  very 
existence  depended  on  his  charity. 

With  all  these  perplexities  on  his  mind,  the  General  had 
very  little  time  for  idle  curiosity,  and  thus  his  wife's  secret 
remained  for  the  time  inviolate. 

Like  most  extravagant  men,  the  General,  under  the 
weight  of  an  enormous  gambling  debt,  became  excessively 
parsimonious  in  his  household,  and  talked  loudly  of  re- 
trenchment and  home  reforms.  In  this  new  mood,  Agnes 
Barker  found  little  difficulty  in  having  several  of  the  old 
servants  discharged,  before  Mabel  left  her  sick  room.  In- 
deed this  girl,  with  her  velvety  tread  and  fawning  atten- 
tions, was  the  only  one  of  his  household  with  whom  General 
Harrington  was  not  for  the  time  in  ill-humor. 

With  all  his  self-possession,  this  old  man  was  a  moral 
coward.  He  knew  that  James  Harrington  was  the  only 
person  to  whom  he  could  look  for  help — and  yet  the  very 
thought  of  applying  to  him,  made  the  gall  rise  bitterly  in 
his  bosom.  To  save  time,  he  gave  notes  for  the  debt,  and 
made  no  change  in  his  life,  save  that  he  was  away  from 
home  now  almost  constantly — a  circumstance  which  the 
members  of  his  household  scarcely  remarked  in  their  new- 
found happiness. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE  NOTE  ON  THE  BREAKFAST  TABLE. 

ONE  morning  General  Harrington  came  forth  from  his 
bed  chamber,  harassed  and  anxious.  He  had  slept  little 
during  the  night,  and  the  weariness  of  age  would  make 
itself  felt,  after  a  season  of  excitement  like  that  through 
which  he  had  passed. 


Mabel's    Mistake.  173 

He  found  the  Sevres  cup  on  his  table,  filled  with  strong. 
Lot  coffee,  and  a  muffin  delicately  toasted,  upon  the  salver 
of  frosted  silver,  by  its  side.  Indeed,  as  he  entered  the 
room,  a  flutter  of  garments  reached  him  from  the  door,  and 
he  muttered,  with  a  smile,  as  he  looked  in  an  opposite  mir- 
ror. 

"  Faith,  the  little  girl  is  very  kind ;  I  must  think  of  this." 
He  sat  down  and  drank  off  the  coffee,  rejecting  the  muffin 
with  a  faint  expression  of  disgust.  As  he  lifted  it  from  the 
salver,  a  note,  lying  half  across  the  edge,  as  if  it  had  lodged 
there  when  the  papers  on  the  table  were  pushed  aside, 
attracted  his  attention,  fie  was  about  to  cast  it  on  one  side, 
when  a  singular  perfume  came  across  him  with  a  sickening 
sweetness.  Snatching  at  the  note,  he  stared  an  instant  at 
the  seal,  and  tore  it  open. 

The  color  left  General  Harrington's  cheek.  As  he  read 
he  started  up,  crushing  the  note  in  his  hand,  while  he  rang 
the  bell. 

"  Did  you  ring,  General.  I  was  going  by,  and  so  an- 
swered the  bell,"  said  Agnes  Barker,  presenting  herself. 

"  Yes,  I  rang,  certainly  I  rang — but  where  are  the  ser- 
vants ?  Where  is  the  woman  who  takes  charge  of  my 
rooms  ?  " 

"  The  chambermaid  ?  oh,  she  went  away  yesterday.  I 
believe  Mrs.  Harrington  has  not  supplied  her  place  yet." 

"Who  brought  up  my  coffee?  who  arranged  my  rooms 
yesterday  and  this  morning  ?  " 

Agnes  blushed,  and  cast  down  her  eyes  in  pretty  confu- 
sion. "  The  new  cook  has  not  learned  your  ways,  sir ;  there 
was  no  one  else,  and  I " 

"  You  are  very  kind,  Miss  Agnes — another  time  I  shall 
not  forget  it :  but,  tell  me,  here  is  a  note  lying  on  my  table 
near  the  breakfast  tray ;  how  long  has  it  been  there — who 
brought  it — where  did  it  come  from  ?  " 

Agnes  looked  up,  with  the  most  innocent  face  in  the 
world. 


174  Mabets   Mistake. 

"Indeed,  sir,  I  cannot  tell.  A  good  many  papers  lay  on 
the  table,  which  I  carefully  put  aside ;  but  no  sealed  note, 
that  I  remember." 

"  This  is  strange,"  muttered  the  General,  walking  up  and 
down,  stopping  to  look  in  his  coffee-cup,  as  if  still  athirst; 
but  waving  her  away  when  Agnes  filled  it  again,  and  would 
have  pressed  it  upon  him." 

"  Remove  these  things,  Miss  Agnes,  if  you  please — and 
order  some  one  to  have  the  carriage  ready.  I  must  go  to 
the  city  at  once." 

Agnes  took  up  the  salver,  and  moved  away,  hesitating, 
by  the  door,  as  if  she  wished  to  speak. 

"Well,"  said  the  General,  a  little  impatiently,  "is  there 
anything  I  can  do  V  " 

"  The  chambermaid,  sir,  I  dare  say  Mrs.  Harrington  lias 
no  choice ;  and  I  should  be  so  obliged  if  you  permitted  my 
old  nurse  to  have  the  place.  She  is  very  capable,  and  1  am 
lonely  without  her." 

"  A  colored  woman,  is  it  ?  "  asked  the  General,  hastily. 

«  Yes,  from  the  South.     She  is  all  I  have  left." 

"  Of  course,  let  her  come,  if  she  knows  her  duty.  I  will 
mention  it  to  Mrs.  Harrington." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  the  girl,  gliding  softly  away.  "  It 
will  make  me  so  happy  to  have  some  one  in  the  house  that 
loves  me." 

The  General  answered  this  attack  on  his  sympathies, 
with  an  impatient  wave  of  the  hand.  He  seemed  greatly 
disturbed — and,  as  the  door  closed,  threw  himself  into  a 
chair,  with  something  like  a  groan. 

"  Can  this  be  true  ?  Lina,  poor  little  Lina,  can  this  be 
real  ?  and  Ralph,  my  own  son.  Great  Heavens,  it  is  terri- 
ble ! " 

He  swept  a  hand  across  his  forehead,  distractedly. 
Then,  starting  up,  as  if  stung  to  action  by  some  agonizing 
thought,  he  began  to  pace  up  and  down  the  room  with  a 


Mabel's   Mistake.  ^        175 

degree  of  excitement  very  unusual  to  him.  At  length  he 
paused  by  the  window,  and,  opening  the  note,  again  read 
it  over  and  over  with  great  anxiety.  At  last  he  went  to  a 
desk  standing  in  a  corner  of  the  room,  and  opening  one 
secret  drawer  after  another,  drew  forth  a  bundle  of  faded 
letters.  As  he  untied  them,  the  identical  perfume  that 
hung  about  the  note  he  had  been  reading,  stole  around 
him ;  and,  turning  paler  and  paler,  as  if  the  odor  made  him 
faint,  he  began  to  read  the  letters,  one  after  another,  com- 
paring them  first  with  the  note,  and  then  with  a  key  to  the 
cypher  in  which  they  were  all  written,  that  he  took  from 
another  compartment  of  the  desk. 

At  last  he  drew  a  deep  breath,  and  wearily  folded  the 
papers  up. 

"  This  is  plausible,  and  it  may  be  true,"  he  said,  locking 
his  hands  on  the  table.  "  The  persistent  malice  of  the 
thing,  confirms  its  probability.  She  was  capable  of  it — 
capable  of  anything ;  and  yet  I  do  think  the  poor  creature 
loved  me.  If  I  could  but  see  her,  and  learn  all  the  facts 
from  her  own  lips.  Yet  the  note  is  better  evidence. 
Who,  except  us  two,  ever  learned  this  cypher  ?  How  else 
could  she  have  known  these  particulars  about  poor  Lina  ? 
But,  this  is  terrible.  I  did  not  think  anything  could  shake 

me  so !     Ralph,  my  son  Ralph,  I  must  speak  with  him 

No,  no  !  Let  me  think ;  it's  better  that  Lina  alone  should 
know  it." 

The  old  man  arose — tottered  towards  the  bell,  and  rang 
it,  nervelessly,  as  if  the  silver  knob  were  a  hand  he  loathed 
to  touch. 

Agnes  answered  the  summons,  but  even  her  self-posses- 
sion gave  way  as  she  saw  the  General's  face,  pale  and  al- 
most convulsed,  turned  upon  her. 

"  I  have  ordered  the  carriage — it  will  be  at  the  door  in  a 
few  moments,  sir,"  she  stammered  forth. 

"  Send  it  back  to  the  stables :  I  shall  not  go  out.     The 
morning  has  clouded  over." 
11 


176        •  Mabefs   Mistake. 

Agnes  glanced  at  the  sunshine  pouring  its  silvery  warmth 
through  the  library  window,  but  she  did  not  venture  to 
speak. 

"  Go,"  said  General  Harrington,  in  a  suppressed  voice, 
"  go  find  your  pupil,  and  say  that  I  wish  to  speak  with  her 
a  moment." 

"  Miss  Lina — is  it  Miss  Lina  I  am  to  call  ?  "  stammered 
Agnes,  taken  by  surprise. 

"  It  is  Miss  Lina  that  I  wish  to  see  ;  have  the  goodness 
to  call  her." 

The  courteous  hut  peremptory  voice  in  which  this  was 
said,  left  Agnes  no  excuse  for  delay;  and,  though  racked 
with  curiosity,  she  was  obliged  to  depart  on  her  errand. 

The  General  sat  down  the  moment  he  was  alone — and 
shrouding  his  forehead,  lost  himself  in  painful  thought. 

The  door  opened,  and  Lina  came  in,  smiling  like  a  sun- 
beam, and  rosy  with  assured  happiness.  "  Did  you  send 
for  me,  General?"  she  said,  drawing  close  the  chair  in 
which  the  old  man  sat.  "Is  there  something  I  can  do  that 
will  give  you  pleasure.  I  hope  so !  " 

The  General  looked  up ;  his  eyes  were  heavy — his  face 
bore  an  expression  she  had  never  witnessed  in  it  till  then- 
He  looked  on  her  a  moment,  and  she  saw  the  mist  melting 
away  from  his  glance,  and  it  seemed  to  her  that  his  proud 
lip  began  to  quiver. 

"  Have  I  offended  you  ?  "  inquired  Lina,  with  gentle  re- 
gret. "  What  have  I  done  ?  " 

The  old  man  arose,  and  laying  a  hand  on  each  of  her 
shoulders,  bore  heavily  upon  her,  as  he  perused  her  face 
with  an  earnestness  that  made  her  tremble.  He  lifted  one 
hand  at  last,  and  sweeping  the  heavy  curls  back  from  her 
brow,  gazed  sadly  and  earnestly  down  into  her  eyes.  Those 
soft  blue  eyes,  that  filled  with  tears  beneath  the  sad  pathos 
of  his  gaze. 

"  Lina !  "     His  hand  began  to  tremble  among  her  curls. 


Mabel's   Mistake.  177 

He  bent  his  forehead  down,  and  rested  it  on  her  shoulders 
sighing  heavily. 

"  Tell  me — do  tell  me  what  I  have  done,"  said  the  gentle 
girl,  weeping ;  "  or,  is  it  Ralph  ?  Oh,  sir,  he  cannot  have 
intended  to  wound  you  ! " 

"  Ralph ! "  exclaimed  the  General,  starting  up,  with  a 
flush  of  the  brow.  "  Do  not  speak  of  him ;  never  let  me 
hear  his  name  on  your  lips  again ! " 

"What?  Ealph — never  speak  of  Ralph?  You  do  not 
mean  it.  Indeed,  I  am  quite  sure,  you  do  not  mean  it. 
Not  speak  of  Ralph  ?  Dear  General,  if  he  has  done  any- 
thing wrong,  let  me  run  for  him  at  once,  and  he  will  beg 
your  pardon — oh,  how  willingly !  Not  speak  of  Ralph  ? 
Ah,  you  are  teasing  me,  General,  because  you  know — that 
is,  you  guess — it  would  break  my  heart  not  to  think  of  him 
every  minute  of  my  life." 

"  Silence,  girl ;  I  must  not  hear  this,"  said  the  old  man, 
dashing  his  hand  aside  with  a  violence  that  scattered  Lina's 
hair  all  over  her  shoulders. 

"  General,"  said  Lina,  lifting  up  her  eyes,  all  brimming 
with  tears,  and  regarding  him  with  the  look  of  a  grieved 
cherub :  "  don't  terrify  me  so.  What  have  I  done  ?  What 
has  Ralph  done  ?  For  the  whole  world  we  would  not  dis- 
please you,  after  all  your  kindness.  Indeed,  indeed  we  are 
too  happy  for  anything  evil  to  come  within  our  thoughts." 

"  And  you  are  happy,  girl  ?  " 

"Very,  very  happy.  It  seems  to  me  that  all  the  earth 
has  blossomed  afresh.  I  thought  this  morning,  that  the 
sunshine  never  was  so  bright  as  it  is  to-day,  and  what  few 
leaves  are  left  on  the  branches,  seem  more  beautiful  than 
roses  in  full  flower.  Dear,  dear  General,  it  is  something  to 
have  made  two  young  creatures  so  happy  !  I  thought  last 
night,  for  life  seemed  so  sweet  that  I  could  not  waste  it  in 
slumber — and  when  the  moonbeams  came  steal  ing  in  around 
me,  making  the  curtains  luminous,  like  summer  clouds — I 


178  Mabets   Mistake. 

thought  that  you  must  have  such  heavenly  dreams  and 
grateful  prayers  to  God,  for  giving  you  power — so  like  his 
own — that  of  filling  young  souls  with  this  beautiful,  beauti- 
ful joy  ! " 

"  Ah ! "  said  the  General,  with  a  deep  sigh ;  "  all  this 
must  change,  my  poor  child.  I  thought  yours  was  but  a 
pretty  love-dream,  that  would  pass  over  in  a  week." 

"  Oh,  do  not  say  that — do  not  say  your  consent  was  not 
real — that  you  have  trilled  with  two  young  creatures,  who 
honestly  left  their  hearts  all  helpless  in  your  hands." 

"  Peace,  peace,"  said  the  old  man,  standing  upright,  and 
speaking  with  an  effort.  "  I  have  not  trifled  with  you.  I 
did  hope  that  all  this  might  pass  off  as  such  love-dreams 
usually  do ;  but,  I  have  promised  nothing  which  should  not 
have  been  accomplished,  had  not  a  destiny  stronger  than 
my  will,  or  your  love,  intervened.  Lina,  you  can  never 
be  married  to  my  son  ! " 

Lina  looked  in  his  face — it  was  pale  and  troubled  ;  his 
eyes  fell  beneath  the  intensity  of  her  gaze — his  proud 
shoulders  stooped — he  did  not  seem  so  tall  as  he  was,  by 
some  inches.  The  deathly  white  of  her  face,  the  violet  lips 
parted  and  speechless,  the  wild  agony  of  those  eyes,  made 
him  tremble  from  head  to  foot. 

"Why  ?  oh,  why  !  "  at  last  broke  from  her  lips. 

"  Because,"  said  the  old  man,  drawing  himself  up,  and 
speaking  with  a  hoarse  effort ;  "  because,  God  forgive  me, 
you  are  my  own  daughter  !  " 

She  was  looking  in  his  face.  A*  sob  broke  upon  her  pale 
lips — the  strength  left  her  limbs — and  she  fell  down  before 
him.  shrouding  her  agony  with  both  hands. 


Mabets   Mistake.  179 

CHAPTER   XXIX. 

FATHER   AND    DAUGHTER. 

GENERAL  HARRINGTON  had  no  power  to  comfort  the 
poor  creature  at  his  feet.  More  deeply  moved  than  he  had 
been  for  years,  the  strangeness  of  his  own  feelings  paralyzed 
his  action.  But  the  hand  to  which  Lina  clung  grew  cold 
in  her  grasp,  and  over  his  face  stole  an  expression  of  sad- 
ness, the  more  touching  because  so  foreign  to  its  usual 
apathy. 

"  Father — oh,  my  heart  breaks  with  the  word — are  you 
indeed  my  father  ?  "  cried  Lina,  lifting  her  pale  face  up- 
ward and  sweeping  her  hair  back  with  a  desperate  motion 
of  the  hand. 

"  Poor  child — poor  child  ! "  muttered  the  old  man  com- 
passionately. 

"  What  can  I  do  ?  what  shall  I  do  ?  It  will  kill  me ! 
It  will  kill  us  both.  Oh,  Ralph,  Ralph,  if  I  had  but  died 
yesterday ! "  cried  the  poor  girl,  attempting  to  rise,  but 
falling  back  again  with  a  fresh  burst  of  grief. 

The  old  man  stood  gazing  to  harden  his  heart — striving 
to  compose  the  unusual  tremor  of  his  nerves,  but  all  in  vain. 
Sorrow,  regret,  and  something  almost  like  remorse  smote 
him  to  the  soul,  for  he  had  once  been  a  man  of  strong  pas- 
sions, and  the  ice  of  his  selfishness  again  broken  up,  the 
turbid  waters  rose  and  swelled  in  his  bosom,  with  a  power 
that  all  the  force  of  habit  could  not  resist.  He  bent  down 
and  lifted  the  girl  from  his  feet,  trembling  slightly,  and 
with  a  touch  of  pity  in  his  voice. 

"  It  is  useless  and  foolish  to  take  any  misfortune  in  this 
manner,  child." 

"  Child ! "  Lina  shuddered  at  the  word.  She  shrunk  away 
from  his  hand,  arose  without  his  help,  and  staggered  back- 
ward with  a  feeling  of  unutterable  repulsion. 


180  MabeFs  Mistake. 

He  saw  the  quiver  of  pain  in  her  features,  and  his  soul 
hardened  once  more.  She  had  not  met  the  feeling  of  ten- 
derness, so  new,  and,  for  the  moment,  so  exquisite  to  him- 
self, and  it  withered  away  like  a  hot-house  blossom. 

"  This  is  a  new  and  strange  relation  to  us  both,"  he  said, 
seating  himself,  and  regarding  her  gravely.  "  Of  course  it 
involves  many  important  and  painful  questions.  Up  to  this 
day  you  have  been  to  Mrs.  Harrington  and  myself  a  daugh- 
ter in  everything  but  the  name  !  " 

Lina  wrung  her  hands,  wildly  moaning :  "  That  name  ! 
Oh,  heavens !  how  can  I  bear  that  name  unless  he  should 
have  given  it  to  me.  Now,  now — -just  as  it  sounded  so 
sweet,  it  separates  us  for  ever.  This  unholy  name  of 
child!" 

General  Harrington  moved  in  his  chair  with  a  gesture  of 
annoyance,  but  Lina,  growing  still  more  impassioned,  came 
toward  him,  wringing  her  small  hands  impetuously. 

"  You  are  my  father — God  forgive  you !  But  there  is 
yet  another  to  curse  or  bless  me  with  her  claims — where 
and  whom  is  my  mother  ?  Is  Mrs.  Harrington  indeed  the 
parent  she  has  always  seemed  to  me  ?  " 

The  General  waved  his  hand  with  a  dissenting  gesture. 

"Do  not  question  me  upon  a  subject  that  must  be  pain- 
ful to  us  both.  This  is  no  time  to  answer  you." 

"  No  time,  when  you  uproot  every  hope  of  my  life  and 
present  a  future  black  with  improbable  things  ?  Up  to 
this  day,  that  dear  lady  was  enough.  I  had  no  desire  to 
ask  about  father  or  mother.  They  told  me  I  was  an  orphan's 
destiny,  and  overlooked  by  all  the  world,  if  the  dear  ones 
under  this  roof  only  loved  me.  I  had  no  other  place  on 
earth,  and  now,  what  am  I  ? — an  impostor,  cast  upon  the 
charity  of  the  dear  lady  my  birth  has  wronged. 

General  Harrington  arose,  and  advancing  toward  Lina, 
took  her  hands  in  his.  The  poor  little  hands  quivered  like 
wounded  birds  in  his  clasp,  and  she  lifted  her  eyes  with  a 


Mabel's   Mistake.  181 

piteous  and  pleading  look  that  no  human  heart  could  have 
withstood. 

"  Ah  !  you  are  trying  me  ?  It  isn't  true  ? "  she  said, 
with  a  gleam  of  hope  and  hysterical  sobs. 

"  No !  it  is  all  real,  far  too  real,  Lina !  Do  not  deceive 
yourself.  I  would  not  wound  you  thus  for  an  aimless 
experiment.  You  are  indeed  my  child  ! " 

"  Your  child,  really — really  your  own  child  ?  Oh,  I  can- 
not understand  it !  Ralph — my  brother,  Ralph  ! " 

Lina  started  as  if  some  new  pang  had  struck  her,  and 
then  drew  away  her  hands  with  a  gesture  of  passionate 
grief. 

"  Ralph,  my  own  brother,  and  older  than  I  am,  for  he  is 
older — oh,  this  is  terrible." 

"  You  will  see,"  said  General  Harrington,  speaking  in  a 
composed  voice,  that  seemed  like  a  mockery  of  her  passion- 
ate accents — "  you  will  see  by  this  how  necessary  it  is  that 
what  I  have  told  you  should  be  kept  secret  from  my  wife 
and  child.  Your  peculiar  relations  with  my  son  rendered  it 
imperative.  I  have  intrusted  you  with  a  secret  of  terrible 
importance.  You  can  imagine  what  the  consequences 
would  be,  were  your  relationship  to  myself  made  known." 

"I  wiU  not  tell.  Oh!  thank  God,  I  need  not  tell!" 
cried  Lina  wildly  ;  "  but  then,  Ralph  ? — what  will  he  think 
— how  will  he  act  ?  Ralph,  Ralph — my  brother  !  Oh,  if 
I  had  but  died  on  the  threshold  of  this  room  ! " 

"Be  comforted,"  said  the  General,  in  his  usual  bland 
voice,  for  the  scene  had  begun  to  weary  him.  "  You  will 
soon  get  used  to  the  new  position  of  things." 

"  But  who  will  explain  to  Ralph  ?  What  can  I  say  ? 
how  can  I  act  ?  He  will  not  know." 

"  Ralph  is  a  very  young  man.  He  will  go  into  the  world, 
and  see  more  of  society.  This  is  his  first  fancy — I  will 
take  care  that  he  is  more  occupied.  The  world  is  full  of 
beautiful  women." 


182  Mabel's   Mistake. 

Lina  turned  deadly  pale.  The  cruel  speech  struck  her  to 
the  soul. 

The  old  man  saw  it,  but  worldly  philosophy  made  him 
ruthless.  "  I  will  crush  the  hoy  out  of  her  heart,"  he  said, 
inly,  "  to  be  rude  here  is  to  be  merciful." 

"  You  must  forget  Ralph,"  he  said,  and  his  voice  partook 
of  the  hardness  of  his  thoughts. 

"  I  cannot  forget,"  answered  the  girl,  with  a  faint  moan, 
"  but  I  will  strive  to  remember  that — that  he  is  my  broth- 
er!" 

The  last  words  came  to  her  lips  almost  in  a  cry.  She 
shuddered  all  over,  and  the  name  of  brother  broke  from  her 
with  a  pang,  as  if  her  heart-strings  snapped  with  the  utter- 
ance. 

"  Can  I  go  away  ? "  she  said,  at  last,  creeping  like  a 
wounded  fawn  slowly  to  the  door. 

"Not  yet,"  answered  the  old  man.  "You  must  first 
comprehend  the  great  necessity  there  is  for  composure  and 
silence.  Not  a  word  of  this  must  be  breathed  under  my 
roof  now  or  ever.  My  own  tranquillity  and  that  of  Mrs. 
Harrington  are  at  stake,  to  say  nothing  of  your  own.  I 
have  told  you  a  momentous  secret.  Let  it  be  sacred." 

"  Oh  !  the  terrible  burden  of  this  secret !  Must  I  carry 
it  for  ever  ?  Even  now  I  go  out  from  your  presence  like  a 
guilty  thing,  and  yet  I  am  not  guilty." 

"  No  one  was  talking  of  guilt,  I  imagine,"  answered  the 
General,  with  a  slight  flush  of  the  forehead.  "  The  whole 
thing  is  certainly  an  annoyance,  and  in  one  sense,  a  misfor- 
tune, perhaps.  But  guilt  is  an  unfeminine  word,  and  I  re- 
gret that  you  could  have  used  it." 

Lina  wrung  her  hands  in  desperation. 

"  I  could  not  help  it.  This  misery  has  found  me  so  un- 
prepared." 

"  Misery  !  Indeed,  young  lady,  it  seems  to  me  that  few 
women  would  consider  it  so  great  an  evil  to  have  the  blood 


MabeTs   Mistake.  183 

of  a  Harrington  in  her  veins,"  said  the  General,  stung  in 
the  inner  depths  of  his  vanity  by  her  words,  and  losing  all 
pity  in  his  wounded  self-love. 

"  But  I  am  a  Harrington  without  a  name — a  daughter 
without  parent — a  beggar  upon  the  charity  of  one  to  whom 
my  existence  is  an  insult !  Would  you  have  me  grateful 
for  this  ? "  cried  Lina,  with  all  the  grief  and  fire  of  her 
young  nature  in  arms  against  the  cold-blooded  composure  of 
the  man  who  so  quietly  called  her  child. 

"  I  would  have  you  prudent,  silent,  and  at  all  events, 
more  lady-like  in  your  expressions  ;  with  well-bred  people, 
a  scene  is  always  revolting,  and  it  pains  me  that  a  daughter 
of  mine  can  be  led  into  the  intemperance  of  action  and 
speech  that  has  marked  this  interview. 

The  General  glanced  with  a  look  of  cool  criticism  at  the 
excited  girl  as  he  spoke.  Her  pale,  tearful  face,  the  dis- 
hevelled masses  of  hair  falling  upon  her  shoulders,  and  the 
almost  crouching  attitude  that  a  sudden  sense  of  shame  had 
left  her  in,  outraged  his  fastidious  taste,  and  the  old  habits 
of  a  life  swept  over  his  new-born  tenderness.  Feeling,  if 
not  elegantly  expressed,  always  shocked  the  old  gentleman, 
and  for  the  moment,  shame  and  tears  had  swept  Lina's 
beauty  all  away.  She  might  have  been  picturesque  to  an 
artist,  but  General  Harrington  was  not  an  artist — only  a 
fastidious,  selfish  old  man,  whose  eyes  always  led  what  lit- 
tle of  heart  he  possessed. 

"  Can  I  go,  sir  ?  I  am  faint — rthe  room  is  growing  dark. 
I  wish,  sir,  I — I " 

The  poor  girl  attempted  to  move  toward  the  door,  as  she 
uttered  this  broken  protestation  ;  but  the  sight  utterly  left 
her  eyes — and,  instead  of  the  entrance,  she  tottered  toward 
the  General,  with  her  hands  extended  as  if  to  catch  at  some 
support,  and  fell  forward,  resting  her  poor  white  face  upon 
the  folds  of  his  Oriental  dressing  gown  that  fell  around  his 
feet. 


184  Mabets   Mistake. 

"  This  is  very  embarrassing,"  muttered  the  General, 
jerking  the  gorgeous  folds  of  his  gown  from  beneath  the 
head  of  his  child,  and  scattering  her  hair,  in  a  thousand 
glossy  tresses,  over  the  floor.  "  What  is  to  be  done  now  ? 
I  suppose  the  religious  people  would  call  this  sowing  dra- 
gon's teeth  with  a  vengeance.  I  wish  the  girl  had  more 
coolness  ;  there  is  no  managing  events  against  weak  nerves 
and  hysterics — but  she  must  be  soothed ;  at  this  rate,  we 
shall  have  the  whole  house  in  commotion.  Lina,  my  child, 
make  an  effort  to  be  calm.  Look  up,  I  am  not  angry  with 
you ! " 

The  old  man  was  so  encased  and  wrapped  in  self-love, 
that  he  really  believed  his  own  severe  words  had  alone 
dashed  the  strength  from  those  young  limbs,  and  that  a 
little  gentle  encouragement  would  make  all  right  again. 
So,  stooping  downward,  he  laid  his  soft,  white  hand,  upon 
Lina's  head,  as  the  last  words  were  uttered ;  and,  when  this 
failed,  made  an  effort  to  lift  her  from  the  floor.  But  the 
leaden  weight  of  utter  insensibility  rendered  more  effort 
necessary,  and,  at  last  really  frightened,  he  arose  and  lifted 
the  insensible  girl  in  his  arms. 

That  moment,  as  her  pale  face  lay  upon  his  bosom,  and 
her  loosened  hair  fell  in  floods  over  his  arm,  the  door  softly 
opened,  and  Agnes  Barker  looked  in. 

"  Did  you  ring,  General  ?  I  heard  a  bell  ring  some- 
where." 

"No,  I  did  not  ring,  young  lady,"  answered  General 
Harrington,  sharply,  "  but  this  young  lady  has  been  over- 
fatigued  someway,  or  was  taken  suddenly  i,li  as  I  was  speak- 
ing of  her  studies." 

A  faint  smile  crept  over  Agnes'  lips,  but  she  checked  it 
in  an  instant,  and  moved  forward  with  an  air  of  gentle  in- 
terest. 

"She  has  studied  very  hard  of  late,  no  wonder  her 
strength  gave  way,"  suggested  Agnes,  softly  smoothing  the 
hnir  back  from  Lina's  forehead. 


Mabel's  Mistake.  185 

There  seemed  to  be  fascination  in  the  movement  of  thor.e 
treacherous  fingers,  for  they  had  scarcely  touched  her  bro\v, 
when  Lina  started  to  life  with  a  shudder,  as  if  the  rattle- 
snake of  the  hill  had  sprung  upon  her  unawares. 

Casting  one  wild  look  upon  the  female,  and  another  upon 
the  General,  she  drew  from  his  arm,  with  a  sensation  of 
loathing  that  made  her  faint  again. 

"  Let  me  go  to  my  room — I  must  be  alone  ! "  she  said, 
with  a  hand  pressed  upon  either  temple.  "  The  air  of  this 
place  drives  me  frantic  :  so  close — so  dreary — so — so  " 

She  moved  away  wavering  in  her  walk,  but  making  feeble 
motions  with  her  hand,  as  if  to  repel  all  assistance.  Thus 
faint,  pale,  and  almost  broken-hearted,  the  poor  girl  stole 
away,  to  weep  over  her  new-born  shame. 

"  She  seems  very  ill,"  said  Agnes,-  softly,  "very  ill ! " 

"  You  have  allowed  her  studies  to  prey  upon  her  health," 
said  General  Harrington,  seating  himself  and  fixing  his 
cold,  clear  eyes  on  the  face  of  his  questioner.  "I  must 
hereafter  more  directly  superintend  her  education  in  person. 
You  will  have  the  goodness  to  inform  Mrs.  Harrington  of 
this  sudden  indisposition." 

Agnes  changed  color.  The  self-poise  of  this  old  man  of 
the  world,  baffled  even  her  eager  curiosity.  She  had  ex- 
pected that  he  would  desire  her  to  keep  the  whole  scene 
secret ;  and  when  he  quietly  told  her  to  reveal  it  to  his  wife, 
and  took  a  resenting  tone,  as  if  she  had  herself  been  the 
person  in  fault,  her  astonishment  was  extreme.  The 
General  saw  his  advantage,  and  improved  upon  it.  After 
softly  folding  the  skirts  of  his  dressing-gown  over  his  knees, 
and  smoothing  the  silk  with  his  palm,  he  took  up  a  volume 
from  the  table,  and  adjusted  the  gold  glasses  to  his  eyes 
with  more  than  usual  deliberation.  Agnes  looked  at  him 
steadily,  baffled,  but  not  deceived,  till  his  thoughts  seemed 
completely  burr  fin  the  volume.  As  she  gazed,  the  evil 
of  her  half'-smotiiered  passion  broke  out  in  her  glance  ;  and, 


186  MabeVs  Mistake. 

as  the  General  languidly  raised  his  eyes  from  the  book,  they 
met  hers. 

"Is  there  anything  you  wait  for?  "  he  inquired,  meeting 
that  fierce  gaze  with  his  cold  eyes.  "  Ah,  I  had  forgotten, 
my  people  may  drive  the  carriage  round — please  say  as 
much." 

Agnes  left  the  room,  biting  her  lips  till  they  glowed 
again,  and  with  her  hand  clenched  in  impatient  fury.  As 
she  closed  the  door,  General  Harrington  laid  down  his  book 
with  an  impatient  gesture. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

BROTHER   AND    SISTEK. 

LIN  A  could  not  rest.  She  went  to  her  room,  but  it 
seemed  so  changed,  so  unlike  her  old  home,  that  a  terror, 
that  was  almost  insanity,  fell  upon  her.  The  rich  blue  cur- 
tains, to  her  excited  mind,  looked  sombre  against  their 
underwaves  of  frost-like  lace,  and  her  bed,  with  its  snowy 
canopy,  now  overclouded  with  damask,  had  a  deadly  white- 
ness about  it,  that  made  her  shrink  within  herself,  as  if 
some  leprosy  had  fallen  upon  her,  which  forbade  her  ever 
again  to  approach  a  thing  so  pure. 

Lina  crept  into  this  room  sad  and  disheartened  ;  looking 
wearily  around,  she  cowered  down  on  the  carpet  in  the  far- 
thest corner,  and  sat  watching  the  door,  as  if  she  expected 
some  enemy  to  come  in  and  drive  her  forth.  At  the  least 
sound  in  the  hall  she  would  start  and  shrink  back  with  a 
moan  upon  her  white  lips,  but  she  shed  no  tears,  and  her 
look  was  rather  one  of  affright  than  of  the  intense  grief 
which  had  overpowered  her  while  in  the  presence  of  Gen- 
eral Harrington. 


Mabel's   Mistake.  187 

At  that  moment  there  was  a  hurried  tread  upon  the  stair- 
case. Every  pulse  in  Lina's  heart  throbbed  wildly,  and  she 
sat  leaning  eagerly  forward  with  a  half-expectant,  half- 
frightened  air,  as  the  steps  paused  before  her  door.  A  low, 
quick  knock  caused  her  to  start  from  the  floor.  She  looked 
wildly  round,  as  if  seeking  some  means  of  escape,  then 
sunk  against  the  wall,  while  her  whole  frame  trembled  with 
agitation.  The  knock  was  repeated,  and  she  covered  her 
face  with  her  hands,  uttering  a  low,  shuddering  moan.  A 
third  time  that  impatient  summons  shook  her  form  as  with 
a  convulsion,  and  when  a  voice,  whose  lightest  tone  pos- 
sessed the  power  to  move  her  inmost  soul,  reached  her  ear 
in  an  eager  whisper,  she  rose  again  and  stood  upright, 
transfixed  by  that  voice,  which  had  never  before  met  her 
ear  without  filling  her  whole  being  with  gentle  pleasure. 

"  Lina — Lina — are  you  there  ?  " 

It  was  Ralph  who  spoke.  Lina  gasped  for  breath  and 
wrung  her  hands  desperately,  like  one  who  entreats  for 
mercy,  and  feels  that  it  is  all  in  vain. 

"  Lina,  answer  me — are  you  there  ?  " 

"  I  ain  here,"  she  replied,  in  a  low,  unnatural  tone. 

"  Open  the  door,  Lina — I  want  to  speak  to  you." 

"Balph,  I  cannot!" 

"Cannot!  What  ails  you,  Lina?  Do  open  the  door. 
Let  me  speak  to  you  for  a  moment." 

She  staggered  feebly  to  the  door,  then  with  a  quick 
motion,  the  hurried  resolve  of  which  was  strangely  at  vari- 
ance with  her  previous  hesitation,  flung  it  open,  and  stood 
before  the  young  man. 

"  Why,  Lina,  have  you  forgotten  your  promise  ? "  he 
began  eagerly ;  then,  checked  himself,  as  he  raised  his 
eyes  to  her  face,  and  marked  the  wildness  of  her  glance, 
and  ghastly  pallor  of  her  cheek.  "  Lina,  what  is  the  mat- 
ter ?  Are  you  ill  ?  Tell  me,  Lina,  what  ails  you  ?  "  lie 
took  her  hands  in  his,  with  a  manner  in  which  the  impetu- 


188  Mabels   Mistake. 

osity  of  a  youthful  lover,  and  the  kind,  protecting  air  of  a 
brother,  were  strangely  mingled. 

"  Answer  me,  Lina,  my  own  Lina." 

But  Lina  had  no  words  ;  when  her  eyes  met  his,  the 
tears  which  during  her  lonely  vigil  had  refused  to  flow, 
burst  forth,  and  she  buried  her  head  in  her  hands,  sobbing 
like  a  frightened  child.  Ralph  folded  his  arms  about  her, 
and  drew  her  back  into  the  chamber,  gathering  her  closely 
to  his  heart,  as  if  to  reassure  her  by  his  protecting  presence. 
He  did  not  question  her  again  for  several  moments,  but 
forcing  her  head  gently  down  on  his  shoulder,  he  strove  to 
soothe  her  with  whispered  words,  until  she  gathered 
strength  to  check  her  tears,  and  drew  herself  from  him, 
striving  all  the  time  to  appear  more  composed. 

"Now  tell  me,  Lina,  what  does  this  mean  ?  " 

She  shook  her  head  sadly,  murmuring  : 

"Nothing,  Ralph,  nothing." 

"Do  not  trifle  with  me,  Lina.  Something  must  have 
occurred  to  cause  this  agitation.  Can  you  not  trust  me  ?  " 

"  There  is  nothing  the  matter !  I  was  ill,  and — and  cried 
without  knowing  why." 

"  You  cannot  deceive  me  with  an  excuse  like  that.  Has 
any  one  hurt  your  feelings  !  do  tell  me  what  has  happened." 

But  Lina  only  shook  her  head,  and  choked  back  the 
despair  which  rose  to  her  lips.  He  would  have  taken  her 
in  his  arms  again,  but  the  movement  and  the  touch  of  his 
hand  roused  her  to  the  fearful  consciousness  that  she  had 
no  longer  a  right  to  seek  consolation  in  his  companionship. 
She  broke  away,  terrified  and  oppressed,  with  a  feeling  of 
guilt  at  her  momentary  forgetfulness. 

"  Leave  me,  Ralph,  I  wish — I  need  to  be  alone." 

"  You  wish — you  need  to  be  alone  !  This  is  very  strange, 
Lina !  Will  you  give  me  no  explanation  ?  Have  I 
offended  you — tell  me  what  I  can  have  done  ?  You  know 
that  I  would  rather  die  ten  thousand  deaths  than  cause  you 
a  moment's  pain." 


MabeVs   Mistake.  189 

"  Do  not  speak  so,  Ralph  ;  do  not  torture  me  by  such 
fears.  You  have  never  wounded  me  by  word  or  look — you 
have  always  been  kind  and  generous." 

"  Thank  you  !  thank  you !  Then  tell  me  what  pains  you  ! 
Darling,  darling,  you  cannot  know  how  I  suffer  to  see  you 
in  this  state.  I  must  have  an  explanation.  Lina,  you 
have  no  right  to  refuse  it." 

"  I  can  give  none !  Ralph,  leave  me,  I  must  be  alone. 
Another  time  I  may  be  able  to  converse,  but  now" — she 
broke  off  abruptly,  wringing  her  hands  in  impotent  despair, 
while  the  great  tears  fell  over  them,  like  the  last  heavy 
drops  of  a  spent  shower.  "  Leave  me,  Ralph,  leave  me  ! " 
she  exclaimed,  with  a  gesture  of  insane  agony. 

"  I  cannot  understand  this  !  Can  this  be  Lina — my  own 
dear  little  Lina,  always  so  confiding  and  truthful  ?  Since 
my  earliest  recollection  have  you  not  known  my  every 
thought  and  wish — been  as  familiar  with  my  heart  as  you 
were  with  your  own  ?  This  is  the  first  time  that  the 
slightest  shadow  has  fallen  upon  your  mind  against  me,  yet 
there  you  stand,  separated  from  me  by  some  fearful  sorrow, 
to  which  I  can  obtain  no  clue." 

"  Do  not  speak  so,  Ralph !  I  repeat  that  nothing 
troubles  me  much  !  Will  you  not  believe  me  ?  " 

"I  never  doubted  your  word  before,  Lina;  but  now — 
forgive  me — I  feel  that  you  are  concealing  something 
terrible  from  me.  When  I  left  you,  this  morning,  you 
promised  to  walk  with  me,  and  I  hurried  here  the  moment 
I  was  free,  longing  to  take  a  ramble  over  the  hills — will 
you  not  go  ?  " 

"  Not  to-day.     I  cannot — I  am  ill." 

"Do  not  seek  to  excuse  yourself!  Say  at  once  that  you 
do  not  choose  to  go." 

"  You  misunderstand  me,  Ralph,  indeed  you  do." 

"  Forgive  me,  Lina ;  I  am  so  maddened  by  the  sight  of 
your  tears,  that  I  scarcely  know  what  I  am  saying.  Only 


190  Mabets  Mistake. 

confide  in  me — can  you  not  trust  me,  your  lover,  your  be- 
trothed ?  " 

"  God  help  me  ! "  broke  from  Lina's  white  lips,  but  the 
exclamation  was  unheeded  by  the  young  man  in  his  agita- 
tion. 

"  Have  you  a  desire  to  hide  anything  from  me — can  you 
love,  when  you  refuse  to  trust  me." 

"  Ralph,  leave  me  !  If  you  have  any  mercy,  go  away, 
and  let  me  be  alone."  In  her  frenzy  she  threw  up  her 
arms  with  a  gesture  which  seemed  to  him  almost  one  of 
repulsion.  He  looked  at  her  for  a  moment,  his  heart  burst- 
ing with  the  first  revelation  of  its  woe,  then  muttering — 

"  Lina,  has  it  come  to  this  ?  "  he  sprang  from  the  room, 
and  the  sound  of  his  flying  footsteps  on  the  stair  recalled 
her  to  a  consciousness  of  what  had  befallen  her. 

She  strove  to  utter  his  name,  but  it  died  husky  and  low 
in  her  parched  throat.  She  must  fly — anywhere  to  be  out 
in  the  air,  for  the  atmosphere  of  that  close  chamber  seemed 
stifling  her.  She  caught  up  a  shawl  which  lay  on  a 
table,  and  rushed  from  the  room  and  from  the  house.  A 
sudden  thought,  which  seemed  instinct  rather  than  reason, 
had  made  her  start  thus  madly  away  to  search  for  old  Ben, 
the  honest  protector  of  her  childhood,  hoping  that  from 
him  she  could  gather  some  explanation  of  the  secret  that 
seemed  crushing  the  life  from  her  frame. 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

THE    SLAVE   AND    HER   MASTER. 

THE  carriage  which  conveyed  General  Harrington,  Trent 
at  a  rapid  speed,  till  it  entered  the  city.  The  General 
seemed  unconscious  of  his  unusual  progress,  and  was  lost  in 


Mabets   Mistake.  191 

what  seemed  a  disagreeable  reverie,  till  he  awoke  amid  a 
crash  of  omnibuses,  and  a  whirl  of  carriages  in  Broadway. 
Here  he  checked  the  driver,  and  leaving  the  carriage,  bade 
him  proceed  to  the  club,  and  await  his  return  there.  He 
paused  upon  the  side-walk,  till  the  man  was  out  of  sight, 
then  turning  into  a  cross  street,  he  walked  rapidly  forward 
into  a  neighborhood  that  he  had  seldom,  if  ever,  visited  be- 
fore. 

The  dwelling  he  sought,  proved  to  be  a  common  brick 
house,  without  any  peculiar  feature  to  distingush  it  from 
some  twenty  others,  which  completed  a  block,  that  stood 
close  upon  the  street,  and  had  a  dusty,  worn  appearance, 
without  a  picturesque  feature  to  attract  attention. 

General  Harrington  advanced  up  the  steps,  after  a  little 
disgustful  hesitation,  and  rang  the  bell.  The  door  was 
promptly  opened,  and  an  ordinary  maid-servant  stood  in  the 
entrance.  The  General  inquired  for  some  person  in  a  low 
voice,  and  the  girl  made  room  for  him  to  pass,  with  a  nod  of 
the  head. 

The  hall  was  dark  and  gloomy,  lighted  only  by  narrow 
sashes  each  side  of  the  door,  and  the  whole  building  so  far, 
presented  nothing  calculated  to  remove  the  distaste  with 
which  the  fastidious  old  man  had  entered  it. 

The  servant  opened  a  door  with  some  caution,  closed  it 
behind  her,  and  after  a  little  delay,  returned,  motioning 
with  her  hand  that  General  Harrington  should  enter  the 
room  she  had  just  left. 

With  this  rather  singular  summons  the  woman  disap- 
peared, and  General  Harrington  entered  the  door  she  had 
pointed  out.  It  was  a  large  room,  lighted  after  the  usual 
fashion  in  front,  and  with  a  deep  long  window  in  the  lower 
end.  This  magnificent  window  occupied  the  entire  end  of 
the  room,  save  where  the  corners  were  rendered  convex  by 
two  immense  mirrors,  which  formed  a  beautiful  finish  to  the 
rich  mouldings  of  the  casement,  and  curved  gracefully  back 
12 


192  MabeFs  Mistake. 

to  the  wall,  making  that  end  of  the  apartment  almost 
semicircular. 

Hangings  of  pale,  straw-colored  silk,  brocaded  with 
clusters  of  flowers,  in  which  blue  and  pink  predominated, 
gave  a  superb  effect  to  the  walls,  and  from  the  ceilings,  a 
half-dozen  cupids,  beautifully  painted  in  fresco,  seemed 
showering  roses  upon  the  visitor,  as  he  passed  under.  The 
carpet  was  composed  of  a  vast  medallion  pattern  upon  a 
white  ground,  scattered  over  with  bouquets  a  little  more 
defined  and  gorgeous  than  those  upon  the  walls,  as  if  the 
blossoms  had  grown  smaller  and  more  delicate  as  they  crept 
upward  toward  the  exquisite  ceiling.  The  front  windows 
were  entirely  muffled  by  draperies  of  rich  orange  damask, 
lined  with  white,  and  with  a  silvery  sheen  running  through 
the  pattern,  while  curtains  of  the  same  warm  material,  fell 
on  each  side  the  bay  window,  giving  it  the  appearance  of  a 
tent,  open,  and  yet,  to  a  certain  degree,  secluded,  for  a  fall 
of  lace  swept  from  the  cornice,  hanging  like  a  veil  of  woven 
frost-work  before  the  glass,  rendering  every  thing  beyond 
indistinct,  but  dreamily  beautiful. 

General  Harrington  was  surprised  by  the  air  of  almost 
oriental  magnificence  which  pervaded  this  apartment. 

This  room  was  not  only  in  powerful  contrast  with  the 
exterior  of  the  dwelling,  but  it  possessed  an  air  of  tropical 
splendor  that  would  have  surprised  the  General  in  any 
place.  Divans,  such  as  are  seldom  found  out  of  an  eastern 
palace,  but  slightly  raised  from  the  floor,  and  surmounted 
with  cushions  heavily  embroidered  with  gold,  ran  more 
than  half  around  it.  A  few  pictures,  gorgeous  and  showy, 
but  of  little  value,  hung  upon  the  walls ;  and  there  was 
some  display  of  statuary,  equally  deficient  in  ideal  beauty. 

The  light  which  fell  upon  General  Harrington,  was  soft 
and  dreamy  imbued  with  a  faint  tinge  of  greenish  gold,  like 
that  which  the  sunshine  leaves  when  it  penetrates  the  foli- 
age of  a  hemlock  grove  in  spring.  For  the  bay  window 


Mabels  Mistake.  193 

opened  into  a  broad  balcony,  open  in  summer,  but  sheeted 
in  from  the  front  by  sashes,  so  arranged  that  the  glass 
seemed  to  roll  downwards,  in  waves  of  crystal,  to  the  floor. 
This  unique  conservatory  was  crowded  with  the  rarest 
plants,  in  full  blossom,  that  swept  their  perfume  in  through 
the  open  window,  penetrated  the  floating  lace,  and  filled 
that  end  of  the  apartment  with  the  glow  of  their  blooming 
clusters. 

The  singular  beauty  of  this  scene — the  quiet  so  profound, 
broken  only  by  the  bell-like  dropping  of  a  fountain — and 
the  twitter  of  birds,  hung  in  gilded  cages,  among  the  blos- 
soms, had  an  overpowering  charm  even  to  a  man  so  blase  as 
the  General.  He  paused  in  astonishment,  looking  around 
with  pleasant  interest — for  an  instant,  forgetful  of  the  per- 
son he  was  seeking.  But,  to  a  man  so  accustomed  to  mag- 
nificence, this  forgetfulness  was  but  momentary,  and  with  a 
quiet  and  almost  derisive  smile,  he  muttered : 

"  Upon  my  life,  the  creature  is  either  witch  or  fairy,  if 
this  is  really  her  home  !  " 

He  was  interrupted  by  a  sound,  as  of  one  moving  upon  a 
cushioned  seat. 

The  light  was  so  dim  at  the  upper  end  of  the  room,  that 
General  Harrington  had  supposed  himself  alone,  till  the 
rustle  of  silk  drew  his  attention  to  a  lady  rising  from  the 
divan,  who  came  toward  him  with  a  sweeping  motion,  like 
some  tropical  bird  disturbed  in  its  nest. 

The  General  paused,  and  stood  gazing  upon  her  as  she 
advanced,  irresolute  and  uncertain  ;  for  the  whole  place  was 
so  different  to  anything  he  had  expected  to  find,  that  for  a 
moment  he  was  bewildered. 

The  lady  advanced  into  the  light,  calmly  and  proudly, 
and  with  a  gleam  in  her  eyes,  as  if  she  enjoyed  his  aston- 
ishment.    Her  dress  was  of  purple  silk,  wrought  with  clus 
ters  of  gold-tinted  flowers,  that  scintillated  and  gleamed  as 
she  moved  out  of  the  shadows ;  her  raven  hair,  arranged  in 


194  Mabets   Mistake. 

heavy  bandeaux  on  each  side  her  face,  was  surmounted  by 
a  cashmere  scarf  of  pale  green,  which  was  carelessly 
knotted  on  one  side  of  her  head,  and  fell  in  a  mass  of  fringe 
and  embroidery  on  her  left  shoulder.  The  flowing  waves 
of  her  robe  swept  the  carpet  as  she  moved,  and  the  undula- 
tions of  her  magnificent  person,  were  like  the  movements  of 
a  leopard  in  its  native  forest.  There  was  neither  fairness 
nor  youth  in  her  person,  and  yet  the  large,  oriental  eyes,  so 
velvety  and  black,  had  a  power  of  beauty  in  them,  that  any 
man  must  have  acknowledged ;  and  there  was  a  creamy 
softness  of  complexion,  a  peach-like  bloom  of  the  cheek, 
dusky  but  glowing — that  harmonized  \vith  the  gorgeous 
richness  of  her  dress  and  surroundings.  The  woman  stood 
before  her  visitor,  her  proud  figure  stooping  slightly  for \vard, 
and  her  eyes  downcast,  waiting  for  him  to  speak. 

The  General  gazed  on  her  a  moment  in  silence,  but  a 
quiet  smile  of  recognition  stole  to  his  lips  ;  and,  with  an 
air,  half-patronizing,  half-pleased,  he  at  last  held  out  his 
hand. 

"  Zillah ! " 

The  woman's  hand  trembled  as  she  touched  his ;  her 
head  was  uplifted  for  an  instant,  and  an  exulting  glance 
shot  from  those  strange  eyes,  bright  as  scintillations  from  a 
diamond. 

"  I  was  afraid  you  would  not  come,"  she  said,  gently. 

"  Why,  Zillah  ?  " 

"  Because  men  do  not  often  like  to  meet  those  who 
remind  them  of  broken  ties." 

The  General  slightly  waved  his  hand  with  a  half  dissent- 
ing gesture,  and  a  gratified  expression  stole  over  his  counte- 
nance, answered  by  a  sudden  gleam  in  that  strange  woman's 
eyes ;  for  she  read  in  that  very  look  an  intimation  that  her 
former  power  was  not  wholly  extinguished. 

"  How  comes  it  that  you  are  here,  Zillah  ?  "  he  asked, 
glancing  around  the  room.  "  This  is  a  singular  place  to  find 
you  in." 


Mabel's   Mistake.  195 

"You  are  astonished  to  see  me  here?  as  if  I  were  a 
slave  yet.  Was  it  strange  that  I,  a  free  woman,  longed  to 
leave  the  places  which  reminded  me  of  the  past,  to  see 
and  learn  something  of  the  world  ?  But,  there  was  another 
and  more  important  reason — had  I  not  a  child  and  a 
mother's  heart  longing  to  behold  her  offspring  ?" 

"  Zillah,  tell  me  truly,  is  this  thing  real?  is  the  girl  we 
call  Lina  French  your  child  ?  " 

"  Have  I  not  said  it,"  replied  the  woman,  regarding  him 
stealthily  from  under  her  half-closed  lashes.  "  Why  should 
I  attempt  to  deceive  you  ?  it  would  gain  me  nothing." 

"  That  is  true ;  bijt  how  did  it  happen  that  you  aban- 
doned her  ?  " 

The  woman  lifted  her  face,  with  a  sudden  flush  of  the 
forehead — 

"  You  sold  me,  made  me  another  man's  slave  :  me,  me  !  " 
She  paused,  with  a  struggle,  as  if  some  suppressed  passion 
choked  her ;  but  directly  her  self-possession  returned ;  the 
flush  died  from  her  face,  and  she  drooped  into  her  former 
attitude,  looking  downward  as  before.  "  But  that  I  always 
was — a  slave,  and  the  daughter  of  a  slave.  Your  child, 
though  unknown  and  unacknowledged,  better  that  it  died 
than  lived  my  life  over  again,  cursed  with  the  proud  Anglo- 
Saxon  blood,  debased  by  the  African  taint,  that,  if  it  exists 
but  in  the  slightest  degree,  poisons  all  the  rest." 

"  Zillah,  you  speak  bitterly.  Was  it  my  fault  that  you 
were  born  a  slave  on  the  plantation  of  my  friend;  that  your 
complexion  was  fair,  and  your  beauty  so  remarkable,  that 
fi-.w  men  could  have  detected  the  shadows  on  your  forehead. 
Surely,  you  had  no  cause  to  complain  of  too  much  hardship 
as  my  servant  ?  " 

For  an   instant,  the  haughty  lip  of  the  woman  writhed 
like  a  serpent  in  its  venom,  struggling  to  keep  back  the  bit- 
ter words  that  burned  upon  them.     Then  her  face  settled 
into  comparative   calm   again,  and  she  said,  in   a  tone  of 
gentle  reproach,  "  But  you  sold  me  !  " 


196  Mabets   Mistake. 

"  I  was  compelled  to  it,  Zillah.  It  was  impossible  to  keep 
you  on  the  plantation.  James  Harrington  became  your 
owner  on  the  death  of  his  mother,  and  you  know  how  terri- 
bly he  was  prejudiced  against  you.  It  was  the  only  com- 
mand that  he  made ;  everything  else  he  left  to  me ;  but 
here,  here  he  was  imperative.  All  that  a  kind  and  obliging 
master  could  do,  I  accomplished  in  spke  of  him.  You  had 
your  own  choice  of  masters,  Zillah ;  that,  at  least,  I  secured 
to  you." 

"  A  choice  of  masters ! "  repeated  the  woman,  turning 
pale  with  intense  feeling.  "  What  did  I  care  about  a  choice 
of  masters,  when  you  sold  me  ?  HadJ^rou  given  me  to  the 
grave,  it  would  have  been  Heaven  to  the  years  that  followed. 
You  sold  me  without  warning — coldly  sent  an  order  to  the 
agent,  and  I  was  taken  away.  Your  own  child  was  the 
slave  of  another  man." 

"  But  you  kept  me  in  ignorance,  Zillah  ;  besides,  I  had 
been  married  again.  A  northern  man,  I  was,  of  course, 
desirous  to  live  in  the  North.  What  could  I  do  ?  " 

"  But  the  other  slaves  were  set  free.  Master  James  pro- 
vided means  for  those  who  wished  it,  to  emigrate  to  Liberia  ; 
a  few  went,  more  remained  of  choice.  No  servant  was  kept 
on  the  estate  who  did  not  desire  it.  I  alone  was  sold." 

"  But  you  know  how  the  young  man  detested  you ;  he 
never  could  be  persuaded  that  your  presence  in  her  sick 
room,  had  not  an  evil  influence  on  his  mother.  In  short 
Zillah,  after  her  death  he  seemed  to  think  of  little  else." 

The  woman  turned  deadly  pale,  as  the  sick  room  of  her 
old  mistress  was  mentioned.  A  shudder  ran  through  her 
frame,  and  she  sat  down  upon  a  neighboring  divan,  gasping 
for  breath.  General  Harrington  watch  qd  this  strange 
emotion  with  keen  interest ;  he  did  not  comprehend  its 
source,  but  it  brought  up  vague  suspicions  that  had  in  for- 
mer years  passed  like  shadows  across  his  brain,  when  the 
sickness  and  death  of  his  first  wife  was  a  recent  event. 


Mabets   Mistake.  197 

"  Zillah,"  he  said,  seating  himself  on  the  divan  by  her 
side,  "  you  turn  pale — you  shiver — what  does  this  mean  ?  " 

The  woman  sat  up,  forcing  herself  to  look  into  his 
questioning  eyes. 

"  I  was  surprised  at  your  blindness,  shocked  at  the  du- 
plicity of  this  man,  James  Harrington.  So  he  excuses  his 
hatred  of  me  by  this  pretence,  and  you  believe  him.  I  will 
speak  now — why  should  I  be  silent  longer  ?  Listen  to  me, 
General  Harrington.  It  was  because  I  knew  his  secret, 
that  James  Harrington  hated  me.  He  loved  the  woman 
you  have  married,  for  whose  tranquillity  I  was  sold  to  a 
new  master." 

"  Very  possible,"  replied  the  General,  with  a  complacent 
smile.  "  I  should  have  been  sorry  to  give  my  name  to  any 
woman  whom  a  man  of  taste  could  know,  without  loving. 
Of  course,  the  young  gentleman,  like  many  others,  was 
dying  of  envy  when  that  remarkable  woman  became  my 
wife." 

Zillah's  eyes  flashed,  and  she  turned  pale,  lip  and  fore- 
head. A  bitter  laugh  broke  away  with  the  words,  as  she 
said, 

"  But  she  loved  him — adored  him,  rather." 

The  General  was  moved  now,  his  self-love  was  all  up  in 
arms  ;  he  was  evidently  getting  furious. 

"  Zillah,  this  is  one  of  your  jealous  dreams.  You  have 
no  proof ! " 

"  Master — let  me  call  you  so  once  more — among  other 
benefits  which  came  to  me  through  your  kindness,  I  was 
taught  to  read  and  write — that  was  a  key  to  much  else  that 
I  learned  afterwards.  In  a  vellum  covered  book,  which 
Miss  Mabel  always  kept  locked  with  a  little  golden  heart,  I 
saw  more  than  proof  of  what  I  say.  She  lost  the  key  from 
her  watch-chain,  one  night,  and  I  found  it.  The  book  is 
probably  destroyed  now,  but  if  it  existed,  I  should  need  no 
other  proof  of  what  I  know  to  be  true ! " 


198  MabeFs  Mistake. 

"  Indeed,"  said  the  General,  prolonging  the  word, 
thoughtfully,  "  Indeed  ! " 

"  Are  you  going  ?  "  exclaimed  the  woman,  as  he  arose 
from  the  divan. 

"  Yes,  Zillah,  I  have  left  some  important  papers  in  my 
library  that  may  be  disturbed.  In  a  few  days  I  will  see  you 
again." 

Zillah  smiled  a  soft,  exulting  smile,  but  she  did  not  allow 
it  to  brighten  her  whole  face  till  General  Harrington  had 
left  the  room. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

THE     BOAT-HOUSE. 

upon  the  shore,  so  built  as  to  form  a  picturesque 
feature  in  the  landscape,  stood  an  old  boat-house,  in  which 
Ben  Benson  made  his  home  when  out  of  active  service  at 
the  Mansion.  Here  the  stout  old  seaman  kept  his  fishing- 
tackle,  his  rifle,  and  a  thousand  miscellaneous  things  that 
appertained  to  his  various  avocations,  for  Ben  was  not  only 
a  naturalist  and  philosopher  at  large,  but  a  mechanic  of  no 
ordinary  skill.  He  not  only  devised  his  own  fishing-flies, 
wove  his  own  shad-nets,  and  game-baskets,  but  performed 
the  duties  of  a  ship-carpenter  whenever  his  boats  got  out  of 
order,  or  a  new  one  was  wanted  for  the  river. 

On  the  day  of  Lina's  great  sorrow,  Ben  was  standing  in 
front  of  the  boat-house,  superintending  a  kettle  of  pitch 
that  was  boiling  over  a  fire  of  dried  logs  and  bark.  The 
boat  which  had  been  almost  torn  to  pieces  on  the  night 
when  Mabel  Harrington  so  narrowly  escaped  a  terrible 
death,  was  now  turned  upside  down,  and  Ben  was  preparing 
to  calk  the  bottom  and  repair  the  injuries  it  had  received. 


MabeVs  Mistake.  199 

Lina  saw  him  as  she  came  down  the  avenue,  and  be,r  pace 
quickened.  The  thin  shawl  she  had  flung  about  her,  was 
fluttering  in  the  wind,  but  there  was  a  fever  in  heart  and 
brain, .  which  rendered  her  insensible  to  the  blast  which 
swept  the  curls  back  from  her  burning  forehead,  and  rus- 
tled through  her  light  garments.  The  little  Italian  grey- 
hound, which  had  been  for  months  her  special  pet,  had  fol- 
lowed her,  unperceived,  striving  in  vain  to  win  some  sign 
of  attention  from  the  distracted  girl. 

Lina  flew  down  the  bank,  and  Ben  looked  up  as  the 
sound  of  her  footsteps  warned  him  who  it  was  that  ap- 
proached. 

"  I  knowed  that  it  was  you,  Miss  Lina,"  he  said,  while 
every  feature  in  his  rough  face  softened,  as  he  looked 
toward  her.  "  Sakes  alive  !  what  brought  ye  out  here  such 
a  day  as  this — this  wind  is  enough  to  snap  you  right  in 
two." 

"  I  don't  mind  the  cold,  Ben ;  I  wanted  to  talk  to  you." 

"Wai,  if  there's  any  one  thing  Ben  Benson  kin  do  for 
you,  you've  only  jest  to  mention  it,  and  consider  it  done 
a'ready." 

"I  know  it,  Ben,  and  that  is  why  I  come.  I  wanted  to 
ask  you  something." 

"  Why,  you're  shakin'  worse  nor  a  poplar  leaf,  and  you're 
as  white  as  if  you  hadn't  a  drop  of  blood  in  your  precious 
little  body.  What  on  arth's  the  matter  with  you,  Lina  ? 
See  that  ere  dog ;  now,  ain't  he  a  pretty  specimen  of  an 
animal  exotic  to  be  out  of  a  hot  house  in  such  a  wind  as 
this." 

Ben  gathered  the  shivering  little  creature  to  his  bosom 
with  one  hand,  snugly  enveloping  him  in  the  capacious 
folds  of  his  pilot  jacket,  while  with  the  other  he  seized 
Lina's  hands,  and  leaning  back  against  the  boat,  stood  look- 
ing at  her  with  a  half-pitying,  half-affectionate  glance,  that 
was -indescribably  comic  and  touching. 


200  MabeFs   Mistake. 

"  I  should  like  to  know  what  Mister  Ralph  was  a- 
thiiikin'  on,  to  let  you  come  out  alone  sich  a  day  as  this." 

That  name  made  Lina  shudder,  and  a  sudden  spasm  con- 
tracted her  features. 

"  No  one  knew  that  I  was  coming  out.  Oh,  Ben !  I 
want  to  ask  something — do  not  refuse  to  tell  me,  or  I  shall 
die  !  How  came  I  here — where  was  I  born — oh,  who  am  I, 
Ben?" 

"  Sakes  alive  !  How  she  goes  on  !  One  question  at  a  time, 
if  you  please,  Miss  Lina !  What  on  arth's  heen  putting 
sich  ideas  into  your  little  head?  Now  no  circumwenting — 
speak  the  truth,  if  you  he  a  woman." 

"  Oh,  Ben,  I  have  always  wondered  and  longed  to  know 
something  about  myself,  and  of  late,  this  desire  has 
increased.  I  can  think  of  nothing  else.  Do  not  put  me 
off — I  shall  die  if  I  am  kept  longer  in  this  suspense." 

Ben  began  to  hug  the  pretty  dog  more  and  more  tenderly 
to  his  bosom,  as  if  it  was  that  which  needed  comforting, 
and  not  the  poor  girl  before  him.  At  last,  turning  himself 
uneasily  about,  like  a  man  disturbed  by  a  sudden  recurrence 
of  painful  memories. 

"Now,  don't  go  to  gettin'  oneasy  idees  into  your  little 
head;  there's  nothin'  wuss  for  the  femenine  constitution. 
When  you're  well  enough,  let  yerself  alone,  and  be  satis- 
fied." 

"Oh,  Ben,  don't — don't !  You  are  my  friend — you  have 
always  been  kind  to  me ;  do  not  turn  from  me,  now,  when 
I  am  tortured  by  these  strange  doubts.  There  is  no  one 
else  of  whom  I  can  ask  an  explanation,  and  you  cannot 
refuse  it!  I  am  so  very,. very,  unhappy,  Ben — dear,  good 
Ben ! " 

"  There,  there,  Miss  Lina !  "  Ben  muttered,  hoarsely, 
patting  her  hand  with  his  hard  palm ;  then,  clasping  it 
again  in  his  huge  fingers,  and  looking  at  it  earnestly,  as  if 
it  had  been  a  delicately  wrought  sea-shell.  "  Don't  say  no 


MabeTs   Mistake.  201 

more — now  don't — when  Ben  Benson  gives  advice,  'taint 
without  a  reason.  Now,  you  just  listen  to  me,  and  then 
run  away,  and  don't  get  no  more  tantrums  in  that  little 
head  o'  yours.  Hain't  the  madam,  Mrs.  Harrington, 
always  been  like  a  mother  to  you — hain't  she  treated  you 
as  if  you  had  been  her  own  flesh  and  blood — do  you  want 
to  make  her  unhappy  now,  little  gal,  do  you  worry  her 
about  such  things  ?  " 
v  "  You  know  I  would  rather  die,  Ben  !  " 

"  I  do  believe  you  would,  Miss  Lina,  I  raly  do !  But 
there  ain't  no  question  about  dyin' — you've  only  to  be 
patient  and  good,  as  is  nat'ral  to  you — take  things  as  they 
come,  and  that's  enough.  I  ain't  a  goih'  to  have  you  ask 
me  no  questions,  and  I  know  you  won't  do  it." 

«  But,  Ben." 

"Hush!"  said  Ben,  pressing  her  hands  hard  between 
his  broad  palms,  and  dropping  them  tenderl)'  downward. 
"  I  can't  listen  to  another  word  of  this  'ere.  It  ain't  of  no 
use,"  and  with  a  gesture  of  stubborn  sorrow,  Ben  walked 
deliberately  into  his  domain,  and  closing  the  door,  bolted  it 
against  Lina,  leaving  her  shivering  in  the  cold. 

Lina  looked  ruefully  at  the  closed  door,  and  her  heart 
sunk  as  she  heard  the  heavy  bolt  drawn  within.  The  last 
faint  hope  died  out  then ;  and,  without  a  word,  she  turned 
and  walked  away  into  the  woods,  desolate  beyond  compari- 
son with  any  former  moment  of  her  life.  The  wind  grew 
sharp,  and  whistled  through  the  light  indoor  garments  with 
which  she  had  recklessly  come  forth;  her  lips  turned  purple 
with  cold ;  her  hands  were  so  numb,  that  they  fell  apart  as 
she  attempted  to  clasp  them ;  the  tears  rushed  warm  from 
her  eyes,  and  dropped  away,  frozen,  like  hail :  and  yet  poor 
Lina  struggled  on,  thinking  the  cold  only  another  pang  of 
anguish,  which  it  was  her  duty  to  bear. 


202  Makers   Mistake. 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

GENERAL    HARRINGTON    READS    THE   VELLUM   BOOK. 

GENERAL  HARRINGTON  was  alone  in  his  library.  His 
hat  and  cloak  lay  in  a  heap  on  a  sofa  near  the  door,  an  in- 
dication of  unwonted  perturbation,  for  with  him,  a  mis- 
placed article  was  a  proof  of  excitement  which  he  was 
always  ready  to  condemn.  His  dress  was  a  good  deal  dis- 
turbed, and  his  hair  disordered,  as  if  he  had  threaded  it 
more  than  once  with  the  white  fingers  that  now  clasped  the 
open  covers  of  Mabel's  Journal  which  he  was  eagerly  read- 
ing. 

It  was  almost  painful  to  see  the  excitement  under  which 
that  old  man  labored.  The  book  trembled  in  his  grasp,  his 
lips  clung  more  and  more  firmly  together,  his  blue  eyes 
shone  vividly  from  under  his  bent  brows,  yet  from  beneath 
all,  there  stole  out  a  gleam  of  triumph,  as  if  he  were  weav- 
ing some  crafty  web  of  underthought  out  from  the  angry 
tumult  with  which  his  soul  labored.  There  was  no  sorrow 
in  his  look,  no  feeling  of  sadness  or  regret  for  the  greatest 
loss  man  ever  experienced,  that  of  a  good  woman's  love. 
With  him  vanity  was  the  grand  passion.  Touch  that  and 
he  became  sensitive  as  a  boy  of  fifteen.  In  all  things  else 
he  was  invulnerable. 

And  yet  Mabel's  Journal  might  have  touched  deeper 
feelings  than  her  husband  was  capable  of  knowing. 
Another  man  would  have  been  roused  to  compassion  by  the 
fragments  of  thought,  sometimes  artless,  sometimes  passion- 
ate, that  seemed  to  have  dropped  fresh  from  her  heart  upon 
the  pages  he  was  reading. 

He  opened  the  vellum  book  at  the  beginning,  for  with  all 
his  impatience,  the  methodical  habits  of  his  life  prevailed 
even  then,  and  at  first,  there  was  little  to  excite  more  than 


Mabets   Mistake.  203 

a  strong  curiosity.  But  as  he  read  on,  the  perturbation  we 
have  described  in  his  countenance,  became  evident.  He 
turned  over  the  leaves  violently,  glancing  here  and  there, 
as  if  eager  to  devour  his  mortification  at  a  single  dash. 
The  cleft  heart,  whose  breaking  had  given  him  access  to 
poor  Mabel's  secrets,  struck  against  his  hand  as  he  closed 
the  book,  and  opened  it  again  at  random.  He  tore  the 
pretty  trinket  away,  and  dashed  it  into  the  grate,  and  a 
curse  broke  from  his  shut  teeth,  as  he  saw  it  fall  glowing 
among  the  hot  embers.  Then  he  turned  back  to  the  begin- 
ning, and  began  to  read  more  deliberately,  allowing  his 
anger  to  cool  and  harden,  like  lava,  above  his  smouldering 
wrath. 

Thus  it  was  that  Mabel  commenced  her  journal. 

"  A  letter  from  my  guardian.  This  is  indeed  an  event. 
A  year  ago  he  wrote  me  a  long  letter  of  advice,  touching 
my  studies,  and  giving  a  world  of  counsel  regarding  my, 
deportment.  That  coid,  half-dictatorial,  half-fatherly  letter, 
seemed  forced  from  his  heart  by  a  sense  of  duty.  This  is 
brief,  elegant  and  kind.  He  is  satisfied  with  my  progress 
at  school,  and  hears  with  pleasure,  of  the  improvement  in 
my  person — this  means,  probably,  that  I  am  not  near  so 
plain  as  he  fancied  me.  They  tell  him  I  have  a  sort  of  fire 
and  animation  of  the  countenance,  more  effective  than  per- 
fection of  outline  could  render  me.  I  wonder  if  this  be 
true — of  course  it  is  impossible  to  judge  of  one's  self  in  a 
point  which  depends  so  much  upon  the  feelings.  There  is 
no  animation  in  a  hurried  or  tedious  toilet,  and  the  beauty 
he  speaks  of  is  never  given  back  by  the  mirror.  To  my 
vision,  now,  this  is  a  rather  dull  and  uninteresting  face.  I 
wonder  if  it  ever  does  light  up  into  anything  like  beauty. 
Some  one  must  have  said  this  to  my  guardian.  Could  it 
have  been  the  young  heir  of  Xeathcote  ?  He  did  not  seem 
to  look  at  me  at  all,  when  he  called  at  the  school  and  I  was 


204  Makers   Mistake. 

frightened  to  death  by  his  great,  earnest  eyes ;  if  ray  guar- 
dian proves  half  as  imposing,  I  shall  be  afraid  to  look  up  in 
his  presence. 

"  There  is  something  strange  in  the  situation  of  my  guar- 
dian. He  is  considered  one  of  the  most  eloquent  men  in 
America,  and  by  his  marriage  with  the  widow  of  a  cousin, 
three  or  four  times  removed,  is  the  master  of  great  wealth. 
But  every  dollar  of  it  came  l>y  his  wife,  on  whom  the  son 
was  left  entirely  dependent  .as  he  is  now.  They  tell  me 
that  General  Harrington  is  a  liberal  step-father  and  gives 
the  young  man  no  reason  to  complain,  but  it  seems  a  little 
hard  that  all  his  father's  great  wealth  should  have  been 
swept  into  the  possession  of  a  comparative  stranger ;  for, 
though  these  two  men  bear  one  common  name,  and  are 
remotely  of  the  same  blood,  they  met  for  the  first  time  at 
the  wedding  out  of  which  sprang  these  present  rather 
singular  relations. 

"  There  is  another  strange  thing  about  this.  Mrs. 
Harrington  can  only  dispose  of  the  property  by  will.  She 
has  no  power  to  alienate  it  during  her  life,  but  can  bequeath 
it  where  she  likes.  So  if  the  General  should  outlive  her, 
this  young  man  may  be  utterly  disinherited  ;  a  hard  case  it 
seems  to  me,  for  the  lady  is  very  gentle  and  yielding,  so 
devoted  to  her  handsome  husband,  that  his  faintest  wish  is 
a  law  to  her.  All  this  has  been  told  me  from  time  to  time, 
leaving  such  an  impression  of  injustice  on  my  mind,  that  I 
fairly  began  to  pity  the  young  man  before  I  saw  him. 
But  after  that,  the  idea  of  pity  never  entered  my  mind. 
Millions  could  not  enhance  the  nobility  of  his  presence,  or 
make  him  one  shade  more  interesting.  His  mother  is  said 
to  be  very  beautiful.  She  should  be,  she  should  be  !  But 
how  foolishly  I  am  writing  about  a  person  whom  I  hare 
never  seen  but  once,  and  who  seemed  to  have  taken  no 
interest  in  that  meeting,  except  to  give  me  a  letter  from  his 
Btep-father,  which  will  alter  my  whole  course  of  life.  The 


Mabels   Mistake.  205 

young  gentleman  himself  is  only  passing  this  way  on  his 
travels  westward. 

"  So,  I  am  to  start  at  once,  now  that  my  education  is 
completed — completed;  I  like  the  term — as  if  education 
were  not  always  progressive,  rounded  off  by  death  only. 
Well,  at  least,  I  am  grateful  to  leave  this  tiresome  routine 
of  lessons,  and  yet  there  is  something  of  mournfulness  in 
this  abrupt  entrance  into  life, 

"  I  have  just  opened  the  window,  and  would  gladly  look 
forth  upon  the  morning.  But  this  screen  of  Cherokee 
roses  hangs  before  me  like  a  curtain,  shedding  fragrance 
from  every  fold.  In  parting  its  clusters  with  my  hands, 
tenderly — for  to  my  fancy,  flowers  are  sensitive  and  recoil 
from  a  rude  touch — the  dew  that  has  been  all  night  asleep 
in  their  heart,  bathes  my  hands  with  its  sweet  rain,  and 
through  the  opening  comes  a  gush  of  odor  from  the  great 
magnolia  that  reaches  out  its  boughs  so  near  my  window, 
that  I  could  lean  forth  and  shake  the  drops  from  those 
snowy  chalices,  as  they  gleam  and  tremble  in  the  bright 
air. 

"  What  a  beautiful  world  is  this.  The  very  breath  one 
draws  leaves  a  delicious  languor  behind  it,  a  languor  that 
falls  upon  the  senses  and  gives  back  to  the  whole  being  a 
dreamy  quietude  that  makes  the  mere  effort  of  existence  an 
exquisite  enjoyment.  And  yet  there  is  a  feeling  of  strange 
loneliness  in  it  all.  It  is  pleasant  to  be  happy,  but  oh  ! 
how  more  than  pleasant  to  have  some  one  near,  to  whom 
all  these  charming  sensations  can  be  expressed.  I  think 
one  is  never  quite  content  alone,  but  then  who  ever  is  really 
content  ? 

"  How  exquisitely  pure  every  thing  seems ;  my  little 
chamber  here,  with  its  delicate  matting  and  snowy  draper- 
ies, looks  like  the  nest  of  a  ring-dove,  it  is  so  white  and 
quiet.  The  sweet  visions  which  visit  me  here  are  melodious 
as  the  warbling  of  the  young  bird,  when  the  early  morning 
wakens  it,  as  the  dawn  has  just  aroused  me. 


206  MabeVs  Mistake. 

"I  have  been  now  three  days  beneath  my  guardian's 
roof.  Dear  Neathcote,  I  love  it  already  for  its  singular 
beauty !  I  shall  never  forget  the  strange  feelings  which 
crowded  my  bosom,  as  the  carriage  passed  through  the  park 
gates  and  rolled  slowly  up  the  broad  avenue.  I  threw  open 
the  window  and  leaned  out  with  the  eagerness  of  a  child  to 
catch  a  sight  of  my  new  home.  When,  as  a  sudden  turn 
in  the  road  brought  the  front  of  the  mansion  in  full  view, 
I  shrunk  into  my  seat  again,  trembling  from  a  vague  fear, 
which  had  as  much  of  joy  as  pain  in  it. 

"  I  grew  fairly  dizzy  and  faint  with  excitement,  as  the 
carriage  paused  before  the  entrance,  and  I  saw  my  guardian 
waiting  on  the  steps  to  greet  me,  standing  up  so  stately 
and  proud,  with  his  wife  by  his  side,  her  sweet  face  lighted 
up  with  a  sort  of  friendly  curiosity,  to  see  what  her 
unknown  visitor  would  be  like. 

"  It  was  not  embarrassment  that  I  felt,  it  was  a  deep, 
strange  emotion  for  which  I  could  not  account.  It  seemed 
as  if  in  crossing  that  threshold  I  was  to  bid  an  eternal  fare- 
well to  the  repose  of  my  past  life.  Like  a  flash  of  light- 
ning those  thoughts  swept  in  a  tumult  through  my  brain  as 
I  descended  from  the  carriage,  and  went  up  the  steps  to 
meet  my  guardian  and  his  wife,  who  came  forward  to  wel- 
come me. 

"  I  shall  always  love  to  look  back  upon  that  arrival ! 

"Everything  was  so  homelike  and  comfortable,  in  spite 
of  the  magnificence  which  reigned  around !  My  guardian's 
rather  cold  face  brightened  into  a  smile  that  rendered  him 
very  handsome,  and  his  wife  greeted  me  as  if  I  had  been 
indeed  her  child,  returning  home  after  a  long  absence. 
Then  I  caught  sight  of  a  woman's  face  at  the  window — a 
servant  evidently,  yet  there  was  a  singular  look  in  her  great 
black  eyes,  as  she  raised  them  boldly  to  my  face,  which 
almost  terrified  me.  Neither  my  guardian  nor  Mrs.  Har- 
rington appeared  to  see  her,  but  I  wondered  how  she  ven- 


Mabel's   Mistake.  207 

tured   to   thrust   herself  forward   in   that  manner,  on  the 
arrival  of  a  stranger. 

"  It  was  she  who  followed  me  to  my  chamber,  when  Mrs. 
Harrington  conducted  me  there,  yet  she  offered  no  assist- 
ance, until  her  mistress  hade  her  attend  to  my  toilet ; .  then 
she  obeyed,  searching  my  face  all  the  while  from  under  her 
black  eyelashes.  Yet  her  singularity  was  probably  an 
exaggeration  of  my  own  fancy,  for  she  seems  quiet  and 
well-behaved,  though  a  little  sullen.  I  am  glad  she  is  not 
to  be  my  attendant,  for  there  is  certainly  an  evil  look  in 
her  eyes,  whenever  she  regards  me,  and  I  could  never  feel 
quite  comfortable  at  night  if  I  knew  that  she  were  any 
where  near. 

"  The  girl  had  just  left  my  rooms  after  arranging  the 
toilet,  which  was  already  in  order,  as  if  for  an  excuse  for 
the  intrusion.  She  cannot  be  a  slave,  for  though  a  little 
dark,  I  can  trace  nothing  of  the  African  blood  in  her  face ; 
there  is  a  glossy  ripple  in  the  blackness  of  her  hair,  but 
that  is  a  beauty  which  any  woman  might  envy.  No,  no, 
she  cannot  be  a  slave.  Her  singular  style  of  beauty  forbids 
the  thought ;  besides,  she  is  not  an  uneducated  person,  and 
there  is  a  certain  subtle  grace  in  her  movements  that  I  can- 
not resist  admiring,  and  yet  loathe.  This  is  strange. 
Why  is  the  girl  so  constantly  in  my  thoughts  ?  Yesterday 
I  spoke  to  Mrs.  Harrington  about  her,  for  my  curiosity 
became  irresistible.  She  is  a  slave,  a  new  purchase  of  Gen. 
Harrington's,  and  the  personal  servant  of  his  wife.  Mrs. 
Harrington  smiled  in  her  usual  contented  way,  and  gently 
complained  of  the  girl's  uselessness  and  studied  inattention, 
but  she  seems  unused  to  opposition  of  any  kind,  and  Ian? 
guidly  allows  even  her  servants  to  control  her  wishes.  This 
fiery  slave — for,  with  all  her  stillness,  she  is  fiery — over- 
powers the  gentle  nature  of  her  mistress,  and  really  seems 
to  drink  up  her  strength  with  the  glances  of  those  great 
black  eyes. 
13 


208  MabeFs   Mistake. 

"  How  indifferent  proud  men  sometimes  are  to  the  beauty 
of  their  inferiors  !  now,  this  girl  Zillah  is  constantly  charm- 
ing even  my  half-repulsed  admiration  by  her  rare  loveliness, 
yet  I  have  scarcely  seen  General  Harrington  turn  his  eyes 
upon  her  face  during  the  whole  time  that  I  have  been  in 
his  house,  but  then,  his  devotion  to  Mrs.  Harrington  is  so 
perfect,  he  evidently  has  no  eyes  for  any  one  else. 

"  How  long  is  it  since  I  opened  my  journal  ?  Three 
months,  I  really  believe,  and  not  a  word  of  record.  Even 
now,  when  the  world  becomes  more  real,  I  feel  like  one 
aroused  very  softly  from  dreaming  among  the  angels.  How 
would  I  write  and  see  emblazoned  upon  paper,  doomed,  per- 
haps, frail  as  it  is,  to  outlive  me,  thoughts  that  even  yet 
are  so  intangible,  that,  like  the  butterflies  that  I  used  to 
run  after  when  a  child,  they  are  constantly  eluding  my 
grasp,  and  as  constantly  brightening  all  the  atmosphere 
around  me.  Is  it  possible  that  so  many  weeks  have  gone 
by  since  he  came  home  ?  It  seems  like  a  prolonged  sunset, 
when  the  summer  is  in  prime,  and  one  trembles  to  see  a 
single  tint  fade  from  the  sky,  or  a  single  flower  overshad- 
owed, lest  it  should  depart  forever.  Can  it  be  this  heavenly 
atmosphere  which  imparts  to  the  whole  being  a  languor  so 
delightful,  mingled  with  that  sweet  unrest  which  only 
wakes  you  to  a  keener  relish  of  existence  ?  I  have  been 
striving  to  interrogate  my  own  heart,  and  ask  many  ques- 
tions which  it  cannot  answer,  because  the  whole  world  here 
is  so  new  and  strange,  that  it  is  impossible  to  discriminate 
between  the  luxurious  sweetness  of  material  life  and  those 
quieter  impulses  that  I  have  known  hitherto. 

"  I  remember  the  delight  with  which  I  first  looked  out  up- 
on this  lovely  scene,  but  with  all  the  novelty  and  perfect 
freedom  of  a  heart  ready  to  enjoy  the  beautiful,  I  never  be- 
fore felt  enjoyment  so  intense.  I  come  to  my  room  at  night 
and  lie  down  to  rest,  jealous  of  the  sleep  that  swallows  up 
po  many  hours  of  happiness.  I  am  fond  of  dreaming  no 


Mabefs  Mistake.  209 

longer,  for  visions  that  the  angels  send  are  no  compensation 
for  the  lost  thoughts  that  sleep  steal  from  me. 

"  I  sat  down  with  a  determination  to  write  of  events,  and 
as  ever  dwell  only  upon  feelings.  After  all,  what  has  hap- 
pened ?  Another  member  has  been  added  to  the  family 
circle,  that  is  all,  and  yet,  what  a  change  his  coming  has 
made.  His  presence  seems  to  pervade  the  whole  house. 
The  servants  look  more  cheerful  when  he  speaks  to  them. 
His  mother  brightens  up,  and  throws  off  her  languor  as 
she  hears  his  tread  upon  the  veranda.  Even  the  General's 
courtly  politeness  is  toned  down  into  something  like  affec- 
tion, and  all  his  artificial  stateliness  takes  its  natural  level, 
when  contrasted  by  the  simple  dignity  of  this  young  man's 
nature.  Indeed,  until  James  Harrington  came,  I  had  no 
idea  how  superficial  and  untrue  was  the  character  of  my 
guardian.  But  now,  with  the  pure  gold  of  this  fine  heart 
as  a  test,  I  can  more  clearly  see  the  entire  selfishness  which 
lies  under  his  elaborate  manners. 

"  '  James  will  be  here  to-day,''  he  said  one  morning,  while 
we  all  lingered  around  the  breakfast  table,  '  and  his  com- 
pany, I  trust,  will  render  your  new  home  more  pleasant 
than  we  have  been  able  to  make  it.' 

" '  He  will  be  like  an  elder  brother  to  you,'  said  Mrs. 
Harrington,  smoothing  the  lace  ruffles  over  her  fair  arm, 
and  turning  her  soft  eyes  upon  me  with  a  look  of  gentle 
affection,  '  and  you — oh,  he  cannot  help  liking  you.' 

"  Why  did  the  blood  rush  into  my  face  so  hotly  ?  Why 
did  the  lashes  droop  over  my  eyes,  and  the  tears  spring  up 
beneath  them  ?  Was  it  that  I  am  so  completely  an  orphan, 
that  this  loving  hint  of  brotherly  companionship  made  me 
more  lonely  than  harshness  could  have  done  ?  I  cannot 
tell ;  but  at  this  word  '  brother ' — utterly  strange  to  my  life 
hitherto — my  heart  made  a  sudden  recoil,  and  I  could  - 
scarcely  keep  from  weeping  outright.  General  Harrington 
lifted  his  eyes  to  mine,  with  evident  surprise,  while  the  lit- 


210  Mabets   Mistake. 

tie  white  hand  of  his  wife  crept  into  my  lap,  and. softly 
pressed  mine.  That  moment  a  horse  dashed  up  to  the 
door,  and  young  Harrington  came  into  the  breakfast-room ; 
his  fine  eyes  full  of  eager  affection ;  his  cheeks  in  a  glow, 
and  with  the  most  beautiful  smile  I  ever  saw  on  mortal  lips 
breaking  over  his  mouth. 

" <  Mother,  mother  ! '  he  said,  coming  toward  Mrs.  Har- 
rington, with  both  hands  extended.  '  I  rose  at  midnight, 
and  have  ridden  fast  ever  since,  in  order  to  surprise  you  at 
the  breakfast-table.' 

"  Mrs.  Harrington  started  up ;  a  flush  stole  over  her  face, 
and  for  once  her  eyes  sparkled  before  they  filled  with  pleas- 
ant tears.  This  arrival  was,  indeed,  a  surprise  to  her. 

"  As  he  was  about  to  release  her  hands  from  his  clasp, 
she  drew  him  towards  me,  and  said  pleasantly : 

" '  This  is  Mabel  Crawford — the  General's  ward.' 

"He  took  my  hand,  and  an  expression  of  surprise  or 
interest  rose  to  his  face  as  he  felt  my  ppor  fingers  quiver  in 
his ;  while  my  face  was  burning  with  a  consciousness  of 
feelings  more  tumultuous  by  far,  than  the  occasion  could 
warrant.  He  held  my  hand  a  moment  longer  than  was 
necessary  to  a  cordial  welcome,  and,  for  an  instant,  seemed 
to  wonder  at  my  pertubation  ;  then  his  features  relaxed  into 
the  most  kindly  expression  I  ever  saw,  and  some  words  of 
welcome  fell  upon  my  ears,  but  to  this  hour  I  cannot  recol- 
lect what  they  were  ;  the  sound  entered  my  heart,  and  that 
was  enough. 

"  General  Harrington  seemed  to  watch  us  closely,  for  I 
saw  a  smile  creep  over  his  face,  as  if  my  awkwardness 
rather  amused  him  ;  while  his  lady  stood  by,  regarding  us 
with  her  soft,  brown  eyes,  which  were  beaming  with  a 
thousand  affectionate  welcomes. 

"I  think  it  was  from  that  moment  this  strange  happiness 
of  heart  commenced,  which  has  made  Neathcote  seem  so 
much  like  a  pleasant  corner  of  paradise  to  me.  I  never 


Mabel's   Mistake.  211 

knew  what  companionship  was  before.  If  I  wish  to  read, 
he  seems  ever  to  have  the  book  uppermost  in  his  mind  that 
meets  my  own  thought.  If  I  am  restless — and  this  mood 
grows  upon  me  of  late — he  is  ready  to  gallop  by  my  side 
down  to  the  quarters,  where  I  am  never  weary  of  watching 
the  queer  little  negroes  at  their  play,  or  through  the  mag- 
nolia groves  that  envelope  us  with  a  cloud  of  perfume  as 
we  sweep  beneath  their  branches.  In  fact,  I  have  no  wish 
from  morning  to  night,  which  Harrington  does  not  either 
share  or  anticipate ;  no  brother  could  be  more  kind ;  and 
yet  it  gives  me  a  strange  pang  to  feel  that  all  this 


CHAPTEE  XXXIV. 

AMONG   THE   WATER   LILIES. 

"I  LEFT  off  with  a  half-finished  sentence.  Mrs.  Har- 
rington's maid  broke  in  upon  me  at  the  moment  with  a 
message  from  the  young  master,  as  she  calls  him.  In  a 
hollow  among  the  hills  he  has  found  a  pond  of  water-lilies, 
and  I  must  hasten  to  see  them  unfold  their  snowy  hearts  to 
the  morning  sun,  after  sleeping  all  night  upon  the  lake. 

"  Will  I  go  ?  Surely  one  of  those  lotus  flowers  never 
thrilled  a  more  grateful  response  to  the  wave  that  sways  it, 
than  my  heart  gives  back  to  his  wish — will  I  go  ?  Those 
sleeping  buds  will  not  answer  the  sunbeams  that  kiss  them 
into  another  day  of  bloom,  more  gladly  than  I  take  the 
happiness  he  offers.  I  have  been  restless  and  sad  all  night, 
and  my  heart  leaps  to  this  new  prospect  of  pleasure,  as  a 
bird  flutters  forth  from  the  shadowy  leaves  where  it  has 
spent  the  dark  hours. 

"  The  lotus  pond  was  like  a  fairy  lake,  when  we  reached 
it ;  the  banks  were  festooned  and  garlanded  with  wild  vines, 


212  MabeVs   Mistake. 

prairie  roses,  and  yellow  jessamines,  overrunning  whole 
hedgerows  of  swamp  magnolias,  whose  blended  odor  floated 
like  a  mist  over  the  waters.  Here  and  there  an  oak,  with 
long,  hoary  moss  bearding  its  limbs,  lifted  whole  masses  of 
this  entangled  foliage  into  the  air,  and  flung  it  back  again 
in  a  thousand  garlands  and  blooming  streamers,  that  rippled 
dreamily  in  the  waters  of  the  lake.  As  we  came  up,  an 
oriole  had  lighted  on  one  of  these  pendant  branches,  and 
poured  a  flood  of  song  over  us  as  we  passed  down  to  the 
boat,  which  lay  in  a  pretty  cove  ready  to  receive  us. 

"  An  old  negro  sat  in  the  boat,  lazily  waiting  our 
approach,  with  his  face  bowed  upon  his  brawny  bosom, 
and  the  sun  striking  through  the  branches  upon  a  head 
that  seemed  covered  with  crisp  frost,  age  had  so  completely 
whitened  his  hair.  A  word  from  the  young  master  roused 
the  slumbering  old  man ;  and,  with  a  broad  grin  of  delight, 
he  proceeded  to  arrange  the  crimson  cushions,  and  trim  his 
sails,  making  haste  to  put  forth  on  our  cruise  along  the 
shore,  which  was  starred  with  opening  lotus  blossoms,  and 
green  with  their  broad-floating  leaves. 

"  It  made  my  heart  thrill  with  a  sort  of  pain,  as  our  boat 
ploughed  through  this  exquisite  sheet  of  blossoms — for,  as  I 
have  said  before,  it  has  always  seemed  to  me  like  uprooting 
a  tender  thought  when  a  flower  is  torn  from  its  stem.  I 
said  something  like  this,  as  Harrington  laid  a  handful  of 
the  open  flowers  in  my  lap.  He  looked  at  me  steadily  for  a 
moment — muttered  that  it  was  a  strange  fancy — but 
plucked  no  more  water-lilies  that  day.  After  a  time,  when 
the  old  man,  thinking  to  please  us,  commenced  to  tear  them 
up  by  the  roots,  Harrington  rebuked  him  for  his  roughness, 
and  bade  him  trim  the  boat  for  a  sail  across  the  lake. 

"  I  wonder  why  it  is,  that,  when  we  feel  deepest,  a  dispo- 
sition to  silence  always  holds  the  senses  in  thralldom.  I 
did  not  speak  half  a  dozen  words,  as  our  boat  sped  like  a 
bird  across  the  lake ;  and  yet  my  heart  was  full  of  happi- 


MabeVs   Mistake.  213 

ness,  for  Harrington  had  his  dark  eyes  fixed  with  a  sort  of 
dreamy  earnestness  on  my  face  all  the  time.  A  conscious- 
ness so  strange,  and  almost  delirious,  seized  upon  me,  that 
I  could  neither  look  up  nor  speak,  but  bowed  my  head  over 
the  blossoms  in  my  lap,  whispering  to  them  what  had  never 
been  uttered  in  words,  and  never  perhaps,  may  be. 

"  While  we  sat  thus  in  mute  happiness,  with  nothing 
but  the  ripple  of  the  boat  to  break  the  exquisite  joy  of  our 
silence,  the  oriole  began  to  sing  again,  and  his  mate 
answered  back  the  song  from  across  the  lake.  I  looked  up, 
and  met  his  eyes  :  a  flush  came  to  his  forehead,  and  I  felt 
the  warm  blood  burning  over  my  cheeks  and  forehead. 
His  lips  parted,  and  for  one  instant  he  took  my  hand,  but 
only  to  drop  it  among  the  cold  water-lilies  again,  as  if  some 
distressing  thought  had  aroused  him  to  painful  conscious- 
ness. Why  was  this  ?  how  came  it  that  he  relinquished 
my  hand  so  abruptly  ?  Was  he  shocked  with  my  upward 
glances — did  he  think  my  recognition  of  his  thoughts 
unmaidenly. 

"  The  orioles  ceased  to  sing  just  then,  and  a  sullen  cloud 
came  sweeping  over  us,  which  broke  upon  the  pond  in  a 
sudden  squall  of  wind.  Before  the  old  man  could  reef  his 
sail,  it  gave  way,  and  fluttered  out,  like  the  wounded  wing 
of  a  bird,  bearing  our  boat  with  it.  The  first  plunge  cast 
me  forward  at  Harrington's  feet ;  he  caught  me  to  his 
bosom,  pressing  me  there  with  one  arm,  while  he  drew  in 
the  sail  with  the  other. 

"  The  wind  rose  high,  tearing  in  a  tornado  across  the 
pond ;  but,  I  am  sure — sure  as  I  am  of  the  beating  of  my 
own  heart,  that  Harrington  trembled  from  other  causes 
than  the  danger  we  were  in.  Twice  he  bent  his  lips  to  my 
face,  but  checked  himself  with  murmurs  which  the  cruel 
wind  carried  from  me. 

"  I  do  not  know  how  we  reached  the  shore,  or  why  it  was 
that  we  walked  in  such  profound  silence  homeward — but 


214  Mabels  Mistake. 

this  I  do  know,  another  hour  like  that  would  have  broken 
my  heart  with  its  wealth  of  happiness. 

"  I  could  not  sleep  last  night,  but  lay  quietly,  with  my 
hands  folded  softly  over  my  bosom  as  had  been  a  childish 
habit,  thinking  over  that  sail  upon  the  lotus  pond.  The 
moonbeams  stole  into  my  room,  penetrating  the  roses  that 
hung  around  the  casement,  and  bringing  their  odor  softly 
around  my  couch.  This  rendered  my  happiness  complete. 

"  The  morning  found  me  wakeful,  but  when  it  brightened 
into  day,  I  closed  my  eyes,  and  turned  my  head  upon  the 
pillow,  ashamed  that  the  broad  light  should  witness  my 
happiness. 

"  How  sudden  this  is.  Mrs.  Harrington  has  been  fading 
away  for  a  month.  Her  physician  recommends  change  of 
climate,  and  in  ten  days  we  all  start  for  Madeira,  or  per- 
haps, Spain.  He  goes  with  us,  and  I  am  content. 

"  On  shipboard  at  last !  Here  I  sit  in  my  little  cabin 
and  listen  to  the  heaving  of  the  waves  against  the  vessel, 
as  it  ploughs  proudly  along,  as  if  full  of  the  consciousness 
of  its  own  strength,  and  defying  the  very  elements  to  im- 
pede its  progress. 

"The  past  ten  days  have  been  one  continued  fever  of 
excitement,  and  I  have  scarcely  opened  my  journal.  This 
trip  to  Europe  was  finally  decided  upon  in  such  haste,  that 
we  have  known  hardly  a  moment  of  rest. 

"We  were  on  board  this  morning  at  ten  o'clock,  and  two 
hours  after,  New  York  lay  stretched  out  behind  us  on  the 
shore  of  its  beautiful  bay,  like  some  enchanted  city  asleep 
in  the  sunlight. 

"  All  that  was  dear  to  me  stood  by  my  side,  so  I  had  no 
sorrow  at  my  departure,  beyond  the  natural  feeling  of 
regret  that  all  must  feel  on  quitting  their  native  land.  I 
could  not  understand  Mrs.  Harrington's  burst  of  grief,  so 
unlike  her  usual  quiet  demeanor.  She  has  not  seemed 


Mabel's   Mistake.  215 

much  in  favor  of  this  voyage,  although  she  made  no  opposi- 
tion when  certain  how  greatly  her  husband  desired  to  go. 
There  has  been  a  strange  unrest  about  her  for  days,  that  I 
could  not  comprehend,  but  from  a  few  words  she  unthink- 
ingly uttered  this  morning,  I  imagine  her  to  be  haunted  by 
one  of  those  morbid  fancies,  which  at  times  seize  upon  the 
strongest  mind,  in  the  eve  of  a  long  journey — the  idea  that 
she  will  never  again  behold  the  land  she  is  leaving  behind. 

"She  has  been  laying  down  in  her  cabin  all  day,  for  she 
suffers  greatly,  and  I  spent  several  hours  with  her,  but  at 
sunset  James  called  me  on  deck.  We  stood  side  by  side  at 
the  stern  of  the  ship,  and  saw  the  sun  go  down  behind  a 
mass  of  clouds  more  gorgeous  than  I  ever  beheld.  The 
western  sky  seemed  alive  with  molten  flame — great  bil- 
lows of  crimson  rolled  up  against  the  amber  waves  of  light 
the  sun  had  left  behind,  streaming  down  over  the  waters, 
like  a  torrent  of  rainbows,  until  one  could  scarce  tell  which 
was  sea  and  which  sky. 

"  We  stood  .there  until  the  latest  glories  died,  and  then 
the  moon  stole  slowly  up,  with  only  one  star  beside  her, 
like  the  one  bright  hope  of  a  human  heart.  We  conversed 
but  little.  My  soul  was  too  full  of  the  home  we  had  left, 
and  I  knew,  by  the  expression  of  Harrington's  face,  that  he 
understood  and  shared  my  feelings.  It  was  late  when  I 
left  him,  and  I  cannot  write  more.  My  hand  is  tremulous 
with  the  strange  feelings  which  thrill  at  my  heart ;  the  ex- 
citement of  these  last  few  days  has  been  too  much  for  me, 
but  in  the  quiet  of  this  new  life  I  shall  grow  calm  again, 
perhaps.  Just  now  something  of  Mrs.  Harrington's  fears 
seems  to  oppress  me. 

"  A  month  has  passed.  Our  voyage  is  almost  at  an  end, 
for  to-morrow  the  captain  promises  that  we  shall  be  safely 
anchored  in  the  harbor  of  Cadiz.  The  sun  went  down  this 
evening  in  an  embankment  of  clouds,  shedding  pale,  watery 
gleams  upon  the  sea,  that  threatened  rough  weather.  As 


216  Mabel's  Mistake. 

the  darkness  came  on,  the  clouds  spread  upward,  blacken- 
ing the  whole  sky,  and  flashes  of  lightning  now  and  then 
tore  through  them,  like  fiery  chain  shot  through  the  smoke 
of  a  battle.  There  was  consternation  on  board,  for  we  were 
nearing  the  coast,  and  a  storm  like  this  threatened  danger. 

"  I  remained  on  deck  till  the  rising  wind  almost  swept 
me  over  the  bulwarks.  James  Harrington  was  with  me, 
and  as  the  lightning  gleamed  athwart  his  face,  I  saw  that 
it  was  anxious  and  very  pale.  He  strove  to  appear  uncon- 
cerned, and  went  down  to  the  cabin,  with  a  strong  effort  at 
cheerfulness,  which  neither  deceived  me,  nor  checked  the 
terrible  fears  of  his  poor  mother.  General  Harrington  had 
retired  to  his  state-room,  where  he  sat  in  moody  silence, 
wrapped  in  a  large  travelling  cloak.  When  his  invalid  wife 
joined  him,  trembling  with  nervous  terror,  he  only  folded 
his  cloak  the  tighter  around  himself,  and  muttered  that  she 
need  apprehend  no  danger. 

"  Young  Mr.  Harrington  wrung  my  hand  with  more  of 
warmth  then  he  had  ever  exhibited  before,  when  he  bade 
me  good  night.  He  has  gone  on  deck,  while  I  am  cower- 
ing in  my  state-room,  unable  to  seek  rest,  and  striving  to 
write,  though  the  storm  is  howling  louder  and  louder,  and 
every  lurch  of  the  ship  flings  the  book  from  my  lap." 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

AFTER   THE    STOKM. 


"  ALIVE  and  on  land.  In  the  country,  back  a  little  from 
the  coast,  we  have  found  a  shelter  from  the  shipwreck. 
That  we  live  at  all  is  owing  to  the  bravery  of  a  seaman 
who  superintended  the  making  of  a  raft  after  the  ship 


Mabels   Mistake.  217 

struck,  and  almost  forced  us  to  save  our  lives  by  risking 
them  upon  it.  The  other  passengers  refused  to  go,  and  for 
a  long  time  we  hesitated,  but  Ben  Benson  was  so  deter- 
mined, that  at  last  we  trusted  every  thing  to  his  frail  craft, 
which,  alas  !  was  all  of  our  brave  vessel  that  ever  reached 
the  shore. 

"  I  shudder  even  now,  as  I  remember  the  fearful  rush  of 
waters  around  us  when  our  craft  was  cut  loose  from  the 
sinking  vessel.  A  hundred  ghostly  forms  looked  down  upon 
us  from  the  crowded  stern,  dreading  the  death  for  us,  which 
too  surely  fell  on  them. 

"  It  was  a  terrible  venture.  The  storm  still  raging,  the 
sea  rising  high,  and  breakers  howling  on  either  hand,  like 
hungry  tigers  tearing  at  their  chains.  It  all  seems  like  a 
hideous  dream  to  me  now,  but  I  remember  one  thing  that 
kept  the  life  in  my  heart,  when  it  seemed  turning  to  stone. 
In  the  midst  of  the  storm,  as  the  raft  reeled  and  plunged 
over  the  lightning-stricken  waves,  I  found  myself  gathered 
to  his  bosom,  and  while  the  warmth  of  that  embrace  reached 
my  heart,  I  heard  such  words  as  sent  the  blood  thrilling 
like  a  gush  of  wine,  back  through  all  my  veins.  In  the 
rage  and  whirl  of  the  storm,  while  we  were  quivering  in 
the  very  jaws  of  death,  James  Harrington  uttered  in  many 
a  wild  word,  the  love  that  I  had  felt  to  be  mine  before.  He 
seems  to  have  forgotten  it  now,  for  since  we  have  been 
housed  safely  on  land,  with  the  breath  of  a  dozen  orange 
groves  awaking  nothing  but  sweet  emotions,  he  seems  to 
have  lost  the  passion  of  those  delirious  words,  but  that  they 
are  burned  like  enamel  on  my  heart,  I  might  fancy  them  a 
dream  and  nothing  more. 

"  Why  is  this  ?  What  makes  him  so  reserved  and  yet 
so  gently  courteous.  There  is  no  impediment  to  free 
speech.  Are  we  not  equals  in  birth — and  as  for  fortune, 
thank  Heaven,  I  Jm  rich  enough  for  both.  Why  should  he 
almost  shun  me  then,  and  spend  so  much  time  wandering 


218  Mabefs   Mistake. 

along  the  coast,  looking  upon  the  waves  that  have  almost 
proved  fatal  to  us?  These  thoughts  make  me  very  sad. 
Does  he  repent,  or  has  a  passion  that  seemed  so  strong 
when  death  was  nigh,  gone  out  with  the  storm  that  wit- 
nessed its  first  utterance." 


CHAPTEE  XXXYI. 

MISTRESS   AND    MAID. 

"  WE  had  no  particular  ohject  in  touching  the  coast  of 
Spain  hut  the  health  of  Mrs.  Harrington.  Strange  enough, 
the  shock  and  tumult  of  the  storm  seems  to  have  done  her 
good.  She  looks  stronger  and  brighter  day  by  day.  I  never 
saw  such  a  change.  But  Zillah,  that  wild  beautiful  slave, 
has  been  ill  from  that  terrible  morning,  and  keeps  her  room. 
They  are  all  very  good  to  her.  Mr.  Harrington,  James,  and 
even  the  lady,  vie  with  each  other  in  offering  kindness  to 
her.  These  things  seem  to  affect  her  greatly ;  last  night, 
when  Mrs.  Harrington  sat  down  by  her  bed,  and  took  the 
feverish  hand  which  she  seemed  unwilling  to  extend,  the 
girl  turned  from  her  suddenly,  and  burst  into  a  passion  of 
tears  that  shook  the  bed. 

"  Mrs.  Harrington  tried  to  soothe  her.  She  passed  her 
delicate  hand  over  the  waves  of  purplish  black  hair,  which 
was  all  afloat  from  her  head,  and  asked  in  her  sweet,  gentle 
way,  '  What  the  girl  was  crying  for.  Was  she  homesick  ? ' 

"  Zillah  turned  suddenly  and  looked  into  that  sweet  face. 
Her  lips  parted,  and  some  strong  resolve  came  into  those 
almond-shaped  eyes ;  through  her  inky  lashes,  laden  down 
with  tears,  I  saw  a  gleam  of  true  feeling  that  made  me 
almost  like  the  girl.  But  she  closed  her  lips  again,  and  the 
noble  expression  died  out  of  her  face,  leaving  it  full  of 
dusky  shadows. 


Mabel's   Mistake.  219 

" ( No,  I  am  only  sick/  she  said,  '  something  struck  me  as 
I  flung  myself  down  to  the  raft.  AJ1  had  left  hut  me. 
But  what  does  it  matter  whether  a  poor  slave  lives  or  dies  ? 
It  is  a  thousand  dollars  gone — two,  I  rememher,  for  a  pretty- 
slave  like  me — and  that  is  all.' 

"  She  spoke  with  bitterness,  and  her  eyes  gleamed  angrily 
under  the  tears  that  still  trembled  on  their  lashes. 

" '  But  you  have  scarcely  been  a  slave,  Zillah,'  said  Mrs. 
Harrington.  'It  would  be  a  shame  to  look  upon  you  ex- 
actly in  that  light  with  this  face,  fair  almost  as  my  own,  and 
this  hand  soft,  and  shapely  as  a  child's.  Surely  no  girl  ever 
had  lighter  duties.' 

"  Zillah  gave  one  quick  glance  at  her  mistress,  and  I  saw 
the  faint  dimpling  of  a  smile  around  her  lips.  She  drew 
her  hand  away  and  hid  it  under  the  bed  clothes. 

" ( You — you  are  making  fun  of  me,  searching  for  purple 
marks  around  the  nails.  There  is  no  need  of  that.  But 
for  the  black  blood  I  could  not  have  been  bought  and  sold. 
That  is  proof  enough.' 

"  The  girl  spoke  bitterly,  and  her  lips  trembled  with  pas- 
sion. Then  I  saw,  what  had  never  presented  itself  to  me 
before,  sure  signs  of  her  race.  Temper  brought  the  black 
blood  uppermost,  and  stamped  it  for  a  time  on  the  features. 
The  lips  seemed  heavier,  the  nose  flattened,  the  forehead 
lowered  and  grew  dusky,  a  strange  vitality  stirred  the 
waves  of  her  hair.  No  serpent,  disturbed  in  its  nest,  ever 
gave  out  its  colors  more  vividly.  These  were  thoughts  to 
bring  great  repulsion  with  them.  I  never  had  liked  the 
girl ;  now,  this  upheaving  of  the  dark  blood,  from  which  all 
that  made  her  kin  to  me  revolted,  even  in  her  own  system, 
shocked  and  humiliated  me. 

"Mrs.  Harrington,  born  and  bred  in  the  south,  felt  all 
this  less  keenly,  she  still  smoothed  the  young  creature's  hair 
and  attempted  to  comfort  her. 

"  '  You  have  no  cause  for  trouble,'  she  said.     '  Have  I  not 


£20  MabeFs   Mistake. 

always  taught  you  that  a  faithful  servant  had  all  the  claims 
of  a  friend,  else  why  am  I  here  in  your  sick  room,  Zillah  ? ' 

" '  Oh,  I  am  worth  full  two  thousand  dollars,'  answered 
the  girl,  bitterly.  General  Harrington  takes  excellent  care 
of  his  horses.  '  Is  it  for  love? J 

" '  Zillah,  this  is  unkind,  remember  it  is  not  my  fault  that 
you  are  a  slave.' 

" '  Mrs.  Harrington  arose  ;  the  insolent  ingratitude  of  the 
girl  had  wounded  her  greatly.  For  my  part,  indignation 
forbade  me  to  pity  the  creature.  As  we  left  the  room  I  saw 
that  she  followed  us  with  her  eyes,  and  the  African  stamp 
grew  broader  and  plainer  on  her  face,  till  all  beauty  left  it. 
As  we  closed  the  door  she  started  up  and  called  out  with 
sudden  dread, 

" '  Mistress,  mistress.' 

"  Mrs.  Harrington  hesitated  a  moment,  with  her  hand  on 
the  latch,  but  went  back  into  Zillah's  room  murmuring, 

" '  Poor  thing,  poor  thing,  she  is  sorry  already.' 

"  <  Mistress,  don't  tell  him,  don't  tell  the  master.  I — I 
did  not  mean  to  say  such  things.  It  was  the  black  blood 
burning  in  my  heart.  Don't  tell  him,  or  he  will  send  me 
back.' 

"  Mrs.  Harrington  smiled. 

" '  No,  I  will  not  tell  him,'  she  said  kindly,  '  for  I  think 
he  would  send  you  home  at  once  if  he  knew  how  perverse 
you  have  been.  You  ought  to  remember  that  he  never 
will  forgive  disrespect  to  his  wife.' 

"I  was  looking  at  Zillah.  She  half  covered  her  face 
with  the  bed  clothes,  and  her  form  writhed  under  them  as  if 
in  pain.  It  might  have  been  a  sudden  pang,  but  the  look  of 
a  rattlesnake,  before  it  springs,  was  in  those  eyes. 

"  Mrs.  Harrington  was  thinking  of  her  husband,  and 
observed  nothing. 

" '  That  is  one  great  proof  of  his  love/  she  said  addressing 
me,  '  and  I  think  he  does  love  me  as  few  men  love  their 


Mabel's   Mistake.  221 

wives.  Have  you  not  observed  how  cheerful  and  happy  he 
is  since  I  am  so  much  better  ?  It  was  only  last  night  he 
told  me  that  no  woman,  living  or  dead,  ever  had  or  ever 
could  touch  the  heart  entirely  mine,  not  even  if  God  had 
taken  me  from  him.  I  know  it  seems  foolish  to  repeat 
these  things,  but  when  the  heart  is  full,  one  cannot 
always  help  being  boastful  and  silly.' 

"  Zillah  turned  rudely  in  the  bed,  and  I  saw  her  hand 
clench  itself  into  the  blanket,  tearing  at  the  tough  fabric. 
Mrs.  Harrington,  with  that  feeling  of  household  trust  which 
has  no  consciousness  of  the  intelligence  listening,  went  on 
as  if  the  girl  were  a  thousand  miles  off. 

"  '  You  will  not  mind  if  I  am  a  little  egotistical.  It  is  so 
pleasant  to  be  held  supreme  in  the  one  heart,  to  feel  sure 
that  no  other  woman  ever  has  or  can  share  your  influence. 
If  there  is  a  woman  on  earth  that  I  pity,  it  is  one  who 
doubts  the  love  of  her  husband.  Thank  God  I  have  never, 
never  had  reason  to  know  that  pang.  If  ever  two  people 
adored  each  other  it  is  us.' 

"  Perhaps  it  was  a  little  singular  that  this  lady  should 
talk  of  the  most  sacred  domestic  relations  thus  freely  before 
her  own  servant,  but  it  did  not  seem  strange  to  me.  A 
childlike,  affectionate  woman  like  her,  may  be  excused  many 
things  that  persons  prouder  and  more  reticent  might  prop- 
erly avoid  ;  besides,  the  domestic  habits  of  the  south  admit 
of  very  close  relationship  between  the  mistress  and  her  ser- 
vants, unknown  to  other  regions  even  of  our  own  country. 
I  could  only  smile  an  answer  to  this  wifely  enthusiasm,  but 
it  seemed  to  me  genuine  and  so  sincere,  that  all  my  sympa- 
thy went  with  it.  As  for  the  maid,  she  lay  perfectly  still, 
listening,  and  apparently  half  asleep,  for  she  had  gathered 
the  bed  clothes  around  her,  and  it  was  only  by  a  quick  glit- 
ter that  broke  through  her  eyelashes  now  and  then,  that  I 
could  detect  the  interest  she  took  in  this  singular  conver- 
sation. 


222  Mabel's   Mistake. 

" ( No,  no,'  said  Mrs.  Harrington,  I  would  not  tell  the  Gen- 
eral for  the  world,  how  really  perverse  Zillah  has  been.  She 
has  never  quite  met  his  approbation  I  know,  and  the  least 
thing  would  set  him  against  her.' 

"  '  Hush,  she  is  listening,'  I  said. 

"  Mrs.  Harrington  turned  and  saw  that  Zillah  was  looking 
at  her  with  a  strange  expression.  Something  like  a  mock- 
ing smile  parted  her  full  lips. 

" '  You  must  believe  me,  Zillah.  It  was  in  spite  of  the 
General's  wish  to  leave  you  behind,  that  I  brought  you 
here.' 

"  Again  Zillah  smiled,  this  time  with  more  of  mischief 
than  malice. 

"'I  know,  myself,  the  General  never  liked  me  much.  It 
was  master  James  that  got  him  to  buy  me;  the  General 
would  do  anything  to  please  him.' 

"  '  Yes  indeed,'  replied  Mrs.  Harrington,  addressing  me, 
no  step-father  was  ever  so  indulgent.  James  has  been  a 
fortunate  boy,  though  he  does  not  always  seem  to  think  so. 
It  was  he  who  took  a  fancy  to  Zillah,  and  insisted  that  we 
should  bring  her  with  us,  so  the  General  gave  up  his  preju- 
dice against  her  and  consented.  James  thinks  no  one  can 
take  proper  care  of  me  but  Zillah.' 

"  I  was  still  watching  the  girl.  All  the  frowns  had  left  her 
face  and  she  was  almost  laughing ;  something  seemed  to 
amuse  her  very  much.  I  said  nothing  of  this,  but  the  girl 
puzzled  me  greatly,  and  so  did  the  conversation  of  Mrs. 
Harrington.  Somehow  I  had  got  the  impression  that  James 
Harrington  had  been  opposed  to  Zillah  as  an  attendant  for 
his  mother  ;  that  he  had  suggested  an  older  person,  and  re- 
garded this  one  with  distrust.  But  surely  Mrs.  Harrington, 
his  own  mother,  knew  best." 


Mabel's  Mistake.  223 

CHAPTEE  XXXVII. 

THE  SLAVE  WE  LEFT  BEHIND  US. 

"  ZILLAH  was  really  ill,  and  for  her  sake  we  were  detained 
in  that  little  hamlet  on  the  coast  for  three  weeks.  Even  then 
she  was  unable  to  travel,  and  General  Harrington  resolved  to 
move  on  without  her.  The  barren  little  village  had  no 
attractions  for  him,  and  he  certainly  was  not  a  man  to  sacri- 
fice much  time  or  convenience  to  a  slave  against  whom  he 
had  prejudices. 

"  Why  had  I  become  so  painfully  interested  in  that  girl  ? 
Why  was  it  that  my  heart  grew  heavy,  when  James 
Harrington  expostulated  with  his  father  so  earnestly  against 
the  abandonment  of  that  poor  girl,  as  he  called  her,  in  a 
strange  place  and  among  people  whose  language  was  un- 
known to  her. 

"  But  the  General  was  resolute.  The  girl  could  follow  them 
to  Seville,  he  said,  when  she  became  well  enough  to  travel, 
no  harm  need  come  to  her  and  she  could  be  well  spared. 
Mrs.  Harrington  had  improved  so  much  in  her  health  that 
Zillah  could  have  plenty  of  time  to  get  well  without  much 
inconvenience  to  her  mistress.  Miss  Crawford's  little  maid 
was  always  at  her  disposal. 

"  James  Harrington  did  not  seem  satisfied  with  this  rea- 
soning, but  he  said  nothing  more,  and  the  next  day  we  went 
up  to  Cadiz,  leaving  Zillah  behind: 

"  The  girl  was  greatly  distressed,  and  protested  that  she 
was  well  enough  to  travel  anywhere  with  her  mistress,  that 
everything  would  go  wrong  if  she  was  left  behind,  that  the 
people  were  strange  and  would  not  know  how  to  direct  her. 
She  attempted  to  leave  her  bed  and  put  on  a  traveling  dress, 
but  fainted  as  her  foot  touched  the  floor.  I  was  sorry  for  the 
poo:  creature,  and  my  hear^;  ache'd  at  the  necessity  of  leaving 


224  Makers   Mistake. 

her  alone  ;  but  like  her  I  was  powerless  in  the  hands  of  my 
guardian. 

"  Just  before  we  left,  General  Harrington  went  in  to  speak 
with  her.  She  was  acting  very  unreasonably,  he  said,  and 
deserved  chastisement  for  her  folly.  Did  she  expect  his 
whole  family  to  wait  in  that  dull  place  till  it  was  her 
pleasure  to  get  well  ?  The  truth  was,  James  had  spoiled  the 
girl. 

"  He  must  have  been  harsh  with  the  poor  thing,  though 
that  was  not  at  all  like  him,  for  she  was  sobbing  as  if  her 
heart  would  break  ten  minutes  after,  when  I  went  into  her 
room,  and  said  many  bitter  things  of  her  master's  cruelty, 
which  in  common  charity  I  shall  never  repeat.  Certainly 
the  girl  does  seem  to  be  terribly  spoiled.  I  wish  her  no 
harm,  poor  wretch,  but  if  she  were  going  back  home  a  free 
woman  my  heart  would  be  lighter.  I  wonder  if  they  would 
let  me  purchase  her  and  give  her  the  freedom  which  belongs 
to  every  one  of  God's  creatures.  She  has  managed  to  pick 
up  a  tolerable  education,  and  in  a  country  where  hundreds  of 
the  blue  blood  are  darker  than  she  is,  might  do  well ;  for  she 
certainly  is  beautiful  and  has  bright  native  talent  enough  to 
carve  out  a  happy  future  for  herself.  As  for  the  money,  a 
year's  income  would  be  nothing  compared  with  the  relief  of 
seeing  her  happy,  free,  and  of  all  things,  away  from  us. 
I  will  speak  of  this  to  Mrs.  Harrington  ;  no  woman  ever  had 
a  kinder  heart  or  a  keener  sense  of  justice  ;  the  difficulty  with 
her  is  that  she  spoils  her  servants  with  too  much  kindness. 
That  is  a  thing  which  people  just  out  of  barbarism  are  apt  to 
mistake  for  weakness. 

"  I  think  this  girl  has  been  made  unhappy  by  the  educa- 
tion which  lifts  her  out  of  the  common  herd  of  slaves.  She 
feels  the  disgrace  of  caste  with  terrible  acuteness,  and  in  no 
strata  of  society  can  find  a  place  for  herself.  In  order  to 
make  the  slaves  useful  or  happy,  they  must  be  educated  in 
masses.  It  does  not  do  to  lift  one  fron^  ampng  his  fellows 


MabeVs   Mistake.  225 

as  a  specimen  of  what  they  can  possibly  become.  Open  a 
future  for  the  slaves,  give  them  intelligence  and  freedom  at 
the  same  time  ;  but  I  need  not  go  on.  How  many  times  has 
all  this  been  said.  But  the  day  will  come  when  justice  shall 
be  brought  about. 

"  We  are  leaving  Cadiz  for  Seville,  where  General  Har- 
rington proposes  to  spend  the  holy  week.  I  have  had  no 
opportunity  to  speak  with  Mrs.  Harrington  yet,  but  the  fate 
of  the  poor  girl  we  have  left  behind  hangs  heavily  on  my 
spirits.  James  Harrington,  too,  seems  depressed.  Is  it — 
can  it  be  ?  No,  no,  no !  A  thousand  times  no !  How  dare 
I  form  it  in  thought  ?  Still,  she  is  beautiful,  clever,  eleva- 
ted by  her  intelligence  far  above  some  of  my  own  order. 
She  has  caressing  ways,  too,  when  it  pleases  her  to  assume 
them,  and  a  look  out  of  those  almond-shaped  eyes  when  she 
is  pleased  or  grieved,  that  troubles  even  me  with  painful 
admiration.  No,  if  money  can  buy  her  she  shall  be  out  of 
her  thraldom,  and  happy  as  a  bird,  but  only  on  condition 
that  she  flies  away  to  her  own  country,  or  stays  in  this  after 
we  leave  it.  Strive  as  I  will  for  charity,  nothing  on  earth, 
I  do  think,  will  ever  make  me  like  that  girl  even  as  a  ser- 
vant. 

"  Our  steamboat  is  just  now  turning  into  the  mouth  of  the 
Guadalquiver.  What  strange,  barren-looking  things  are 
these  Spanish  castles !  Their  walls,  of  a  dull,  yellowish  red, 
seem  more  like  an  upheaving  of  the  soil  itself,  than  massive 
stone  piled  up  by  the  labor  of  man.  They  are  bare,  too,  of 
the  rich  vines  and  tremulous  leafage  which  makes  the  ruins 
of  Italy  so  picturesque,  and  those  of  England  so  grand  in 
their  decay.  Here  is  a  massive  building  on  our  right,  full 
of  historic  interest,  I  dare  say,  and  it  may  be  rich  in 
Moorish  embellishments  if  I  could  see  the  interior ;  but  at 
this  distance  it  looks  bleak  and  barren  as  a  prison.  My  own 
vague  '  castles  in  Spain'  are  ten  thousand  times  more  beauti- 
ful 


226  Mabels   Mistake. 

"  I  said  this  to  James  Harrington  as  he  came  and  stood  he- 
side  me  on  the  deck. 

"  '  Oh,'  he  answered  with  a  sigh,  '  Who  of  us  does  not 
build  air  castles  only  to  see  them  vanish  into  mist.  As  you 
say,  mine  have  been  more  beautiful  than  that  heap%>f  stones. 
After  all,  architecture  is  severely  perfect,  which  Nature  does 
not  claim  after  it  leaves  the  hand  of  its  constructor.  The 
struggle  which  she  makes  to  draw  art  back  into  her  own 
bosom,  is  always  beautiful.' 

"  Thus  he  will  talk  to  me  for  hours,  but  never  of  himself. 
What  have  I  done  that  we  are  driven  so  far  apart, — that  he 
so  studiously  turns  his  eyes  away  when  mine  question  him 
with  unconscious  earnestness, — unconscious  till  some  look  of 
his  reminds  me  that  for  a  moment  I  have  been  off  my  guard. 
Then  I  grow  angry  with  myself,  and  avoid  him  with  what 
must  seem  to  him  childish  caprice.  Does  he  understand  all 
that  I  think  and  suffer?  Does  he  know  how  that  day 
among  the  water  lilies  haunts  my  memory." 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

THE   EATOK   FAMILY. 

"THERE  is  an  American  family  on  board — some  per- 
sons whom  the  Harringtons  have  met  before  in  the 
South,  and  who  have  attempted  to  renew  the  acquaint- 
ance. The  old  people  seem  to  me  very  coarse,  common- 
place persons — planters  from  the  interior  of  Louisiana — 
rich  and  vulgar ;  but  the  daughter  is  beautiful — a  blonde, 
with  lovely  hair,  full  of  sunshine,  and  eyes  of  that  deep 
purplish  blue  which  one  seldom  sees  after  childhood.  Her 
figure  is  petite  but  finely  rounded.  She  has  all  the  health 
and  freshness  of  a  child,  with  the  sweetest  graces  of  woman- 


Mabets   Mistake.  227 

hood.  Yes,  I  can  say  this,  and  acknowledge  the  charm  of 
her  heauty,  though  she  has  given  me  the  most  wretched 
day  I  ever  passed  in  my  life. 

"  James  Harrington  had  known  her  before,  and  was  re- 
joiced at  the  meeting.  When  he  saw  her  across  the  deck 
my  hand  was  on  his  arm,  for  we  were  walking  together. 
The  start  he  gave  shook  off  my  hold  and,  with  hoth  hands 
extended,  he  went  to  meet  her,  glad  as  I  had  never  seen 
him  before. 

"  The  girl  blushed  like  a  rose,  and  came  forward  to  meet 
him,  quite  half  way,  smiling  up  in  his  face  as  I  had  never 
dared  to  smile  through  all  the  months  of  our  domestic  inter- 
course. My  heart  turned  cold.  I  felt  a  strange  contraction 
about  my  mouth  as  if  all  the  blood  were  retreating  from  the 
lips,  which  would  not  syllable  a  word  when  he  brought  the 
young  lady  towards  me  and  presented  her. 

"  She  looked  at  me  earnestly,  like  a  child  who  felt  itself 
repulsed,  and  stood  silent  as  if  expecting  me  to  come  out 
of  my  reticence  and  receive  her  as  every  one  evidently  did. 

"  At  last  I  spoke  with  an  effort,  and  I  dare  say  brusquely, 
for  I  felt  that  my  voice  sounded  forced  and  cold. 

" '  You  are  an  old  friend — you  have  known  Gen.  Harring- 
ton and  his  family  before  ? '  I  said. 

" '  Oh  yes,'  she  answered,  smiling  up  at  James.  '  We 
are  old  friends.  How  long  is  it,  Mr.  Harrington,  since  you 
taught  me  to  ride  ?  Indeed,  Miss  Crawford,  I  think  he  has 
taught  me  almost  everything  worth  knowing  that  I  can 
boast  of.' 

"  I  made  an  effort  to  smile,  and  answered  in  the  insin- 
cerity of  my  pain,  that  it  must  have  been  a  pleasant  task  to 
instruct  so  lovely  a  pupil. 

"  She  laughed  sweetly,  and  replied  in  her  childish  fashion, 
'He  used  to  say  as  much,  but  I  am  sure  it  was  only'  to 
encourage  me.' 

"Just   then   her  father  crossed  the   deck,  radiant   with 


228  Mabefs   Mistake. 

pleasure,  and  shouted  a  greeting  as  he  came.  He  was  a 
large,  heavy  man,  robust  and  genial,  overshadowed  by  a 
broad  Panama  hat,  and  flourishing  a  large  white  handker- 
chief in  his  hand,  as  if  it  had  been  the  star  spangled  ban- 
ner, which  was  to  open  the  heart  of  every  American  he 
met. 

" '  Hallo !  We  have  overtaken  them  at  last,  have  we,  Miss 
Lucy  ?  Now  I  hope  you  are  satisfied.  How  are  you,  Har- 
rington ?  Did  not  expect  to  see  us  in  this  part  of  the 
world,  I  dare  say  ?  Is  the  General  and  Mrs.  Harrington 
on  board  ?  Of  course  I  might  have  known  as  much  from  a 
sight  of  this  young  lady.  The  General's  ward,  I  suppose.' 
Here  Mr.  Eaton  took  off  his  Panama  hat  and  made  an 
elaborate  bow,  which  I  returned,  striving  to  meet  his 
cordiality,  with  some  show  of  interest. 

"'Well,  this  is  comfortable/  he  said,  fanning  himself 
with  the  broad  rim  of  his  hat,  '  of  all  countries  in  the  world 
Spain  is  the  one  where  an  American  likes  to  meet  an 
American  best.  I  don't  understand  one  word  of  their 
lingo,  and  our  courier  isn't  much  better  off — hates  the 
Spaniards  so  that  he  never  would  learn  their  language,  in 
hopes  that  it  might  keep  any  one  from  bringing  him  here. 
But  he  is  a  good  fellow,  can  be  trusted  with  untold  gold. 
Language  or  no  language,  I  wasn't  going  to  do  without  him. 
But  it  is  awkward  work  trying  to  make  these  Spaniards 
understand.  Ask  what  you  will  and  they  answer  all  alike, 
Kiem  Sabe,  as  if  that  was  the  answer  to  an  honest  question. 
Oh  my  boy,  I'd  give  twice  the  money  we  got  for  her,  that  I 
hadn't  sold  you  that  girl  Zillah.  When  we  took  her  to  Cuba 
she  pitched  in  and  learned  the  language  right  smart ;  won- 
derful girl  that ;  have  you  got  her  yet,  Harrington  ?  ' 

"  '  She  came  with  us  to  Spain,'  said  Harrington,  looking  a 
good  deal  disturbed,  '  but  you  forget  she  was  General  Har- 
rington's purchase.  I  believe  my  mother  took  a  fancy  to 
her.' 


MabeFs   Mistake.  229 

" f  Your  mother !  Why  bless  your  soul,  she  never  saw 
the  girl  till  General  Harrington  took  her  home.  He  said 
that  you  had  urged  him  to  buy  her ;  come,  come,  don't  blush 
up  like  that,  what  the  deuce  do  I  care  who  fancied  the  girl, 
she  was  a  great  bargain  to  any  one.' 

"  '  Are  you  speaking  of  Zillah  ? '  said  Miss  Eaton,  languidly. 
What  a  pretty  creature  she  was.  It  seemed  a  shame  to  keep 
her  with  the  other  negroes.  I  remember  often  and  often 
visitors  mistook  her  for  me.' 

" '  But  that  was  before  they  had  seen  you,  Lucy.  The  girl 
is  well  enough,  but  no  one  could  mistake  her  for  you.  Such 
coal  black  hair,  eyes  like  velvet.  Yes,  yes,  the  girl  was  a 
beauty, — one  good  reason  why  I  was  willing  to  sell  her.' 

"  James  Harrington  was  so  annoyed  by  the  conversation, 
that  he  walked  away  frowning.  I  had  never  seen  his  noble 
face  darken  so  unpleasantly  before. 

"  Miss  Eaton  laughed,  and  followed  him  with  a  pair  of 
sparkling  eyes,  that  had  a  world  of  mischief  in  them. 

"  {  Something  wrong  I  see.  That  girl  will  keep  things 
stirring  wherever  she  is;  knows  aheap,  and  far  too  hand- 
some for  my  plantation ;  glad  to  get  rid  of  her,  if  the  truth 
must  be  told.  Women  folks  were  fools  enough  to  teach  her 
to  read  and  write,  after  that  she  took  the  bits  into  her  own 
mouth,  and  learned  every  thing.  What  do  you  think  I 
would  do  with  a  fancy  slave  like  that  ?  ' 

" '  Father,  you  cannot  see,  but  General  Harrington  is 
coming,'  said  Miss  Eaton. 

"  '  Oh,  ho  !  my  old  friend,  how  is  the  lady  ? ' 

"  '  MA.  Harrington  is  quite  well,  the  voyage  has  done  her 
a  world  of  good,  long  enough  for  a  chance  at  health  you 
understand.  That  is  why  we  selected  a  sailing  vessel.  It 
isn't  going  to  sea  at  all  when  you  get  into  the  steamers. 
Where  is  James  ?  I  thought  he  came  this  way,  his  mother 
wants  him.' 

" '  Oh,  I  am  to  blame,  I  drove  him  off  talking  about  that 
girl  Zillah.' 


230  Mabets  Mistake. 

" '  Come  this  way,'  said  the  General  hastily,  '  I  wish  to 
surprise  Mrs.  Harrington,  she  will  be  rejoiced  to  know  that 
you  are  here.' 

"  They  went  away  together.  I  saw  General  Harrington 
stop  his  friend  after  they  got  out  of  hearing,  and  talk  with 
him  earnestly  as  if  expostulating  about  something.  Then  I 
saw  Mr.  Eaton  clap  his  hand  on  the  General's  shoulders,  nod 
his  head  half  a  dozen  times,  and  move  on  as  if  some  matter 
had  been  amicably  settled  between  them.  From  that  day,  I 
never  heard  Mr.  Eaton  mention  the  girl  Zillah  again.  Was 
it  because  James  Harrington  seemed  so  displeased  with  the 
subject  ? 

"I  was  left  alone  with  the  young  lady,  who  seemed  so 
sweet  and  good  that  it  was  impossible  to  look  upon  her  with 
anything  but  kindness.  Yet  I  never  turned  towards  her 
without  a  nervous  thrill  that  almost  held  my  breath  5 
every  line  of  her  face,  and  graceful  curve  of  her  form, 
seemed  burned  on  my  memory  from  the  first  moment  I  saw 
her.  Was  this  jealousy?  What  had  I  to  be  jealous  of? 
A  fair  girl  whom  he  had  known  well,  and  was  pleased  to  see 
in  a  strange  country,  where  friends  are  few  and  unusually 
welcome,  surely  I  am  not  so  weak  or  wild  as  to  give  my- 
self up  to  an  unreasonable  and  unreasoning  fancy  like  that." 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

THAT    SPANISH   NOBLEMAN1. 

"  Miss  EATON  was  enthusiastic  about  the  scenery  of  the 
river,  as  the  boat  swept  over  its  arnber-hued  waves,  and  the 
scenery  became  more  and  more  Arcadian.  She  was  a  little 
romantic  too,  and  fell  into  some  childish  affectations,  that 
gave  me  a  fair  excuse  for  not  thinking  her  perfect.  Upon 


Mabel's   Mistake.  231 

the  boat  was  a  tall,  powerful  looking  man,  with  bold  black 
eyes,  and  the  carriage  of  a  person  used  to  power  of  some 
kind.  His  dress  was  remarkable, — the  short  jacket  of  the 
country,  buttoned  and  ornamented  with  quantities  of 
round  golden  buttons,  that  rattled  and  tinkled  as  he  walked 
up  and  down,  was  ornamented  with  a  very  rich  embroidery, 
in  which  gleams  of  crimson  and  brown  were  enwrought  on 
the  blue  ground  with  delicate  effect;  a  traveling  cap,  also 
richly  embroidered,  sat  jauntingly  on  the  side  of  his  head. 
Everything  about  him  was  apparently  new,  and  if  too 
gorgeous,  effective. 

"Miss  Eaton  watched  this  man  with  her  furtive  blue 
eyes,  as  he  passed  us  ever  and  again,  each  time  fastening 
his  gaze  on  her  face  with  a  look  of  audacious  admiration 
that  made  the  blood  come  hotly  into  my  cheek. 

"  '  What  is  he,  have  you  any  idea  ?  '  she  whispered,  as  he 
passed  us  for  the  fifth  time,  'some  nobleman  I  am  sure. 
Don't  you  think  so,  Miss  Crawford  ? ' 

"  I  answered  pleasantly,  that  as  this  was  the  first  country 
of  Europe  that  I  had  seen,  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  judge 
what  particular  trait  distinguished  its  nobility.  While  I 
was  saying  this,  a  little  fussy  woman,  wearing  a  showy 
dress  and  lace  mantilla,  came  up  to  us  and  called  Miss  Eaton 
by  name. 

"  '  My  dear/  she  said,  giving  Lucy's  bonnet  a  jerk  for- 
ward. '  Have  you  seen  him  ? ' 

"  '  Who,  mamma  ?  ' 

" '  Why  that  duke,  he  passed  here  just  now,  and  I  saw 
him  looking  at  you — with  that  bonnet  stuck  on  end,  dear 
me  ! ' 

"  Lucy  began  to  re-arrange  her  bonnet,  entering  into  her 
mother's  anxiety.  '  Was  it — was  it  the  gentleman  with  the 
buttons,  mamma.  How  is  it  now  ?  too  far  forward  I  think, 
— with  the  buttons  ? ' 

"  '  Such  buttons ! '    interrupted  the  mother,    { solid  gold 


232  Mabels    Mistake. 

every  one  of  'em,  blue  blood,  every  drop  in  his  veins — any 
one  could  swear  to  that  without  telling.  Did  you  see  him, 
Miss?' 

"  '"Miss  Crawford,  mamma,'  said  Lucy,  '  General  Harring- 
ton's ward,  whom  we  have  heard  so  much  about.' 

"  The  woman  looked  at  me  keenly  through  an  enamelled 
eye  glass,  which  she  carried  fastened  to  a  chain  of  gold, 
twisted  around  her  wrist. 

" '  Glad  to  make  your  acquaintance,  Miss  Crawford,'  she 
said,  dropping  the  glass  after  a  full  survey  of  my  person. 
'  James  has  told  us  so  much  about  you.  Indeed,  we  were 
getting  almost  jealous,  weren't  we,  Lucy  ?  There,  there  he 
comes  again.  Drop  your  parasol,  Lucy,  carelessly,  you 
know.  Hush,  hush  ! ' 

"  The  Spanish  traveller  came  by  us  again,  with  his  long 
sweeping  walk  and  bold  eyes,  which  he  kept  on  the  blush- 
ing face  of  Miss  Eaton — impertinently,  I  thought. 

"  Mrs.  Eaton  gave  me  a  little  punch  with  the  point  of 
her  parasol,  after  he  had  passed. 

" '  Struck  !  undoubtedly  struck.    Don't  you  think  so  ? ' 

" '  Oh,  mamma,  how  can  you  !  I'm  sure  it  was  Miss 
Crawford  his  Highness  was  admiring.' 

"  '  But  how  do  you  know  it  is  his  Highness,'  I  inquired. 

" '  How  ?  Why,  look  at  him.  His  very  tread  has  nobility 
in  it.  You  have  not  been  travelling  abroad  long  enough  to 
distinguish  at  a  glance.  In  order  to  know  the  aristocracy 
of  a  nation  one  must  have  mingled  with  it  on  equal  terms. 
Now  that  gentleman  is  a  royal  duke,  I  take  it.  Lucy,  dear, 
if  you  could  manage  to  be  speaking  French  when  he  comes 
this  way  again.  Perhaps  Miss  Crawford  knows  enough  to 
give  you  countenance.  I  am  a  little — just  a  little — out  of 
practice  since  my  passion  for  the  Spanish.  Noble  language, 
isn't  it,  Miss  ?  Something  so  dignified — so  rolling — so  rich 
in  sound.  Here  comes  Mr.  James  Harrington,  handsome 
as  ever,  but  wanting,  as  I  may  suggest,  in  the  grand  air. 
See  with  what  modest  appreciation  he  passes  the  duke.' 


MabeVs  Mistake.  233 

"  The  vulgarity  of  this  woman  did  more  to  lift  the  cloud 
from  my  heart  than  a  hundred  arguments  could  have  done. 
I  knew  young  Harrington  well  enough  to  feel  that  he  was 
safe  with  a  woman  like  this,  though  the  mother  of  an  angel. 
A  sense  of  amusement  stole  over  me,  and  I  awaited  his 
approach,  cured  of  the  anxiety  that  had,  for  a  time,  made 
me  so  wretched. 

"  If  I  had  calculated  on  a  second  exhibition  of  snobbery 
after  Harrington  joined  us,  Mrs.  Eaton  disappointed  me.  I 
think  she  held  the  young  gentleman  in  too  much  awe  for  a 
free  exercise  of  the  vanity  that  was  in  her.  She  did  not 
even  mention  '  the  duke,'  and  I  remarked  that  this  person- 
age kept  on  another  portion  of  the  deck  while  James  was 
with  us. 

"How  beautiful  are  the  banks  of  this  river,  as  we  go 
nearer  and  nearer  its  source!  It  is  strange  that  I,  an 
American,  born  in  a  land  which  spreads  the  broadest  prai- 
ries on  earth  to  the  breeze  and  the  sunshine,  should  have 
caught  my  first  glimpse  of  one  in  the  heart  of  Spain.  Here 
mile  after  mile,  the  Guadalquiver,  spread  through  vast  plains 
of  tall  grass  and  wild  flowers,  which  sweeps  away  from  you  on 
either  hand  in  a  sea  of  billowy  green  touched  with  purple 
and  crimson,  gleams  now  and  then  where  the  tall  flowers 
grow  thickest,  and  swayed  by  the  wind  till  the  waving  grass 
seems  to  heave  and  roll  like  the  ocean  itself. 

"  I  had  left  my  companions,  and  stood  by  the  bulwarks 
admiring  the  beauty  of  this  scene  with  a  sense  of  keen 
pleasure.  Its  vastness,  its  soft  wave-like  undulations 
charmed  me  into  forgetfulness  of  all  that  has  made  the  trip 
unpleasant.  There  was  no  habitation  in  sight,  yet  those 
prairies  gave  one  an  idea  of  infinite  life. 

"  '  It  is  here/  said  a  voice  at  my  elbow,  '  where  the  people 
of  Seville  come  for  the  wild  bulls  that  form  the  great  feature 
in  their  bull  fights.  Wandering  about  in  that  long  grass 
are  thousands  of  splendid  animals  that  probably  never  saw 
the  face  of  man.' 


234  Mabefs   Mistake. 

"  It  was  James  Harrington.  I  felt  that  he  was  there  before 
he  spoke.  A  quick  throbbing  of  my  heart  had  warned  me 
of  his  presence. 

"'I  see  nothing  of  them/  was  my  answer.  'It  seems  one 
broad  sea  of  wavy  grass,  more  still  and  lonely  than  the 
ocean  itself,  because  no  ships  are  to  be  seen.' 

" '  Look,'  he  said,  pointing  to  a  long,  undulating  ripple  in 
the  grass,  which  seemed  like  the  flow  of  some  brook, 'a drove 
is  coming  toward  the  shore.' 

"  As  he  spoke,  the  thick  wall  of  grass  that  hedged  in  the 
river  was  parted,  and  the  fiery  head  and  broad  chest  of  a 
wild  bull,  black  as  jet,  came  into  full  view,  while  the  rest  of 
his  body  was  still  concealed. 

"  Rosa  Bonheur  would  have  gloried  in  a  study  like  that. 
The  great  wild  eyes,  burning  with  angry  fire — the  long, 
slender  horns,  black  as  ebony,  and  sharp  as  steel,  which 
curved  out  from  the  proud  symmetry  of  that  head,  would 
have  inspired  lower  genius  than  hers.  The  furious  toss  of 
those  horns,  the  swelling  nostrils,  blood  red  with  angry 
heat,  the  vehement  pawing  of  his  hoof  upon  the  bank,  were 
enough  to  terrify  a  bolder  person  than  I  am.  But  the  river 
was  deep,  and  our  boat  far  enough  from  the  shore  to  silence 
any  fear  of  danger.  Besides,  the  creature  was  so  magnifi- 
cent in  his  wild  rage,  that  admiration  overwhelmed  all  othei 
feelings. 

"  As  the  boat  came  opposite  this  bull,  there  was  commotion 
in  the  tall  grass  all  around  him,  and  out  from  the  dense 
covert  broke  half  a  dozen  kindred  beasts,  all  drawn  to  the 
shore  by  the  rush  and  sound  of  the  steamboat.  Superb 
animals  they  were,  one  and  all ;  perfect  creatures,  fresh  from 
the  hand  of  Nature,  untouched  by  fetter  or  lasso,  untamable 
as  the  lion  in  his  jungle.  Some  were  ready  for  fight  with 
the  monster  beast  that  had  seemed  to  challenge  combat,  with 
its  rushing  wheels  and  the  defiant  snort  of  its  engine. 
Others  looked  gravely  at  the  passing  phenomenon,  and  stood 


Mabels   Mistake.  235 

motionless,  with  the  long  grass  closing  over  their  backs, 
evidently  wondering  what  terrible  thing  had  come  among 
them  to  torment  the  waters  so.  While  we  were  looking, 
these  grave  old  animals,  who  had  doubtless  been  within 
sight  of  human  beings  before,  wheeled  slowly  and  were  lost 
in  the  long  grass  which  closed  over  their  backs,  as  sea 
waves  cover  a  victim.  But  the  black  bull  came  farther  out 
from  his  covert,  tearing  the  bank  with  his  hoofs,  erecting 
his  tail  like  a  banner,  ripping  up  the  earth  with  his  sharp 
horns,  and  bellowing  a  defiance  after  us,  that  made  me  trem- 
ble where  I  stood.  Heaven  help  the  matador,  whom  fate 
should  throw  into  the  path  of  that  terrible  creature. 

"  The  banks  of  the  Guadalquiver  are  Arcadian,  after  the 
prairies  are  passed.  As  we  approached  the  beautiful  basin 
in  which  the  old  city  of  Seville  is  built,  villas  and  country 
houses  were  seen  here  and  there  along  the  shores ;  clumps  of 
gnarled  old  olive  trees  wound  down  to  the  water ;  orange 
and  citron  trees  in  full  blossom,  and  fruit,  perfumed  the  air ; 
sometimes  a  single  tree  stood  out  alone  large  and  symmetical 
as  a  New  England  pear  tree ;  then  whole  orchards  sloped 
down  to  the  river,  with  great  golden  piles  of  fruit  heaped 
on  the  grass  underneath,  and  the  blossoms  showering  down 
so  thickly,  that  it  seemed  as  if  a  squall  of  snow  must  have 
swept  by  only  an  hour  before.  I  think  in  the  whole  world, 
there  cannot  be  found  trees  so  large,  so  perfect,  and  so  vivid 
in  their  greenness,  as  those  we  saw  in  the  orange  orchards, 
just  before  we  came  in  sight  of  Seville.  How  I  longed  to 
go  ashore  and  bathe  myself  in  their  perfume,  and  taste  their 
delicious  fruit ! 

"  James  Harrington  was  standing  near,  and  he  too  must 
have  felt  the  influence  of  all  that  subdued  me ;  for  the  scent 
of  the  orange  blossoms  swept  OArer  us  both,  the  rich  amber- 
hued  waves  of  the  river  whispered  the  same  music  to  him 
that  I  had  listened  to.  We  had  conversed  but  little, — a 
climate  like  this  induces  reverie,  rather  than  speech ;  all  the 


236  MabeVs  Mistake. 

sensibilities  of  one's  nature  exert  themselves  unconsciously, 
a  harsh  word  or  bitter  thought  would  melt  into  forgiveness, 
before  either  could  be  spoken.  Was  he  affected  in  this  way  ? 
I  cannot  tell ;  my  heart  deceives  me  if  there  was  not  unusual 
tenderness  in  his  voice,  a  tremor  as  if  he  feared  to  say  what 
niy  heart  paused  to  gather  in.  I  dared  not  look  at  him.  In 
my  soul  there  lay  thoughts  he  might  shrink  from  reading, 
and  I  should  perish  with  shame  if  he  but  guessed  that  they 
existed." 


CHAPTER  XL. 

THE    MANOEUVRING      MOTHER. 

"  WE  come  in  sight  of  Seville,  the  high  tower  of  the 
Giralda,  cutting  against  the  blue  of  the  sky,  first  won  my 
attention;  then  a  portion  of  the  old  city  came  in  view, 
backed  by  one  of  the  finest  cathedrals  in  the  world. 

"  It  was  just  before  holy  week ;  the  steamboat  brought 
many  passengers  from  Cadiz,  who  had  come  to  witness  the 
ceremonies  in  this  the  second  city  of  Spain. 

"  Many  persons,  mostly  ladies,  were  on  the  shore  when 
our  boat  came  up  to  its  landing  place.  Dressed  in  their 
light  flowing  muslins  and  lace  mantillas,  they  had  a  pictur- 
esque appearance  quite  in  harmony  with  the  place.  The 
moment  we  came  in  sight,  a  hundred  pretty  hands  gave  out 
signals  of  welcome  from  the  twinkle  of  their  delicate  fingers. 
There  was  no  bustle,  no  confusion,  but  a  world  of  welcom- 
ing smiles,  and  soft  murmuring  words,  which  would  have 
filled  me  with  a  sense  of  loneliness,  had  not  all  that  I  loved 
been  close  by.  How  could  I  miss  those  wreathing  wel- 
comes, when  the  wealth  of  my  whole,  existence  went  with 
me? 


MabeTs   Mistake.  237 

" '  You  are  pleased.  You  like  Seville.  I  can  read  it  in 
your  face.' 

"  He  had  not  spoken  to  me  during  the  last  ten  minutes, 
and  I  started  from  the  dreaming  observation  into  which  I 
had  fallen,  to  answer  him.  • 

"  '  I  was  wondering  if  all  the  world  could  produce  another 
spot  more  lovely.' 

"  '  And  I  was  thinking  pretty  much  the  same  thing.  In 
a  scene  like  this  the  hard  cares  of  life  seem  impossible.  It 
is  a  place  to  live,  love,  and  die  in.' 

"  I  could  not  answer  him.  Indeed,  his  words  were  spoken 
so  dreamily  that  they  required  no  response. 

"  We  were  on  shore  then,  waiting  for  General  and  Mrs. 
Harrington.  The  Eatons  joined  us,  full  of  some  important 
intelligence,  which  I  saw  the  elder  lady  was  dying  to  com- 
municate. 

" '  I  told  you  so — never  was  mistaken  in  my  life,'  she 
whispered.  '  The  captain  speaks  French  almost  as  well  as  I 
do.' 

"  To  have  saved  my  life  I  could  not  have  helped  smiling. 
The  woman  had  given  me  a  specimen  of  her  French  that 
day,  and  I  could  imagine  how  perfect  any  information  must 
be  conveyed  to  her  in  that  language. 

" '  I  asked  him  who  the  gentleman  was,  and  he  told  me 
he  was  the  greatest  man  in  Seville,  just  then.  No  wonder 
I  admired  him — all  the  ladies  did,  not  excepting  the  Infanta 
herself,  who  would  present  him  with  a  golden  key  next 
week,  in  token  of  her  high  appreciation !  She  must  be 
some  member  of  the  royal  family — master  of  the  wardrobe, 
I  suppose,  by  the  key.  They  never  give  such  offices  to  any- 
thing less  than  a  duke,  you  know.' 

"  The  little  woman  was  all  in  a  flutter  of  excitement. 
Again  she  made  a  motion  that  I  should  bend  my  head  to 
listen. 

" '  Would  I  oblige  her  and  ride  or  walk  with  Mr.  James 


238  Mabels   Mistake. 

She  would  rather  that  the  duke  should  not  see  Lucy  with 
him  just  now.  He  might  understand  an  engagement,  and 
the  Spaniards  were  so  proud  and  particular.  That  was  a 
good  soul !  She  could  trust  me  with  all  her  little  secrets.' 

"  The  silly  thing  did  not  dream  how  willing  I  was  to 
oblige  her,  hut  General  Harrington  broke  up  our  plans. 
He  had  engaged  a  carriage,  and  called  on  me  to  get  in  with 
Mrs.  Harrington.  My  maid  was  already  seated  there,  so 
James  walked  to  the  shore  alone.  The  Eatons  had  their 
way,  for  he  did  not  offer  to  go  with  them.  They  lingered 
at 'the  landing  till  the  duke  drove  off.  Mrs.  Eaton  told  me 
that  he  had  absolutely  waved  a  kiss  to  Lucy  from  his  car- 
riage window.  Of  course  it  was  not  returned, '  but  straws 
show  where  the  wind  lies/  she  said.  '  So  many  people  told 
us  before  we  came  away,  that  we  ought  to  look  higher  for  a 
girl  like  our  Lucy.  I  wonder  if  a  duke  would  meet  the 
ideas  of  our  friends.' 

"  The  woman's  fussy  vanity  wearied  me — so  puerile,  so 
ridiculous,  yet  there  was  a  sting  in  it.  Look  higher  for 
their  daughter  !  Higher  than  whom  ?  But  why  should  I 
let  the  talk  of  this  silly  woman  annoy  me  ?  The  daughter 
is  wonderfully  beautiful,  but  what  of  that  ?  Still  I  have 
heard  it  said  that  the  most  brilliant  men  often  choose  such 
women  for  their  wives.  There  is  repose  in  this  companion- 
ship it  is  said,  and  so  it  may  be  for  a  time,  but  men  do  not 
live  for  repose.  When  a  man  wants  rest  for  his  intellect,  let 
him  sleep,  not  marry  a  pretty  idiot. 

"  Dear,  dear  !  how  bitter  I  am  becoming !  How  unhappy 
I  am !  What  possesses  me  to  think  of  this  poor  girl  as  an 
enemy  ?  Is  it  because  he  took  her  to  the  cathedral  yester- 
day and  left  me  to  General  Harrington. 

"  We  went  to  the  cathedral  again  this  morning.  I  saw 
General  Harrington  talking  earnestly  with  James  just 
before  we  started.  He  seemed  a  little  angry.  I  could  not 
hear  a  word,  but  they  both  looked  towards  me,  and  I  saw 


Mabets   Mistake.  239 

the  blood  rush  into  James'  face  when  he  saw  that  I  was 
regarding  them.  He  hesitated  a  moment  after  the  General 
left  him,  and  advanced  a  step  towards  me,  then  wheeled  sud- 
denly and  went  away.  A  few  minutes  after  I  saw  him 
walking  towards  the  cathedral  with  Lucy  Eaton.  We  fol- 
lowed them  after  a  little,  General  Harrington  observing, 
with  a  laugh,  that  we  must  give  the  young  people  their 
chances." 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

THE    CATHEDRAL    AT    SEVILLE. 

"  THE  cathedral  was  magnificent.  All  its  rich  properties 
in  velvets,  silver  and  gold,  had  been  brought  forth  for  its 
adornment.  The  altar  was  one  blaze  of  light — tapers  of 
snow-white  wax  rose  in  crowds  from  golden  candlesticks, 
garlanded  with  flowers  which  sent  their  sweetness  through 
the  pungent  smoke  of  the  censers,  and  clothed  the  altar  with 
a  sacred  whiteness.  Reliquaires  flaming  with  jewels,  flashed 
out  through  all  this  noonday  splendor,  and  two  enormous 
tapers,  six  feet  high,  stood  like  sentinels  on  each  side  the 
altar.  Yet  all  this  was  insufficient  to  light  up  the  vast  edi- 
fice or  penetrate  the  chapels  in  the  side  aisles.  Here  all  was 
shadowy  and  full  of  religious  gloom,  where  any  weary  soul 
might  pray  in  solitude,  notwithstanding  the  priests  were 
saying  high  mass  at  the  great  altar,  and  a  grand  choir  of 
fresh,  young  voices  filled  the  whole  edifice  with  music  which 
seemed  born  of  Heaven. 

"  The  gloom  along  the  centre  of  the  building  was  height- 
ened by  draperies  of  warm  crimson  velvet,  which,  banded  at 
each  seam  with  gold,  swept  down  the  vast  stone  pillars  and 
fell  in  massive  folds  over  the  great  entrance  doors. 
15 


240  Mabel's  Mistake. 

"  I  could  not  understand  all  that  was  said,  for  the  service 
was  in  Latin,  but  I  did  feel  the  solemn  swell  of  the  music 
in  every  fibre  of  my  being,  and  the  devotional  feeling  which 
impressed  the  crowd  touched  me  with  holy  sympathy. 

"  I  do  not  know  what  caused  the  impulse,  but  Mrs.  Har- 
rington took  my  hand  tenderly  in  hers.  Then  we  stole  to  a 
side  altar  gleaming  snow-white  through  the  shadows,  and 
kneeling  down  together  asked  that  help  and  blessing  from 
God  which  both  of  us  thirsted  for.  The  whispered  prayers 
we  uttered  that  solemn  hour,  undoubtedly  sanctified  a  friend- 
ship which  has  been  growing  deeper  and  stronger  from  the 
first  hour  of  my  meeting  with  this  lovely  woman.  She 
wept  that  day,  and  I  saw,  for  the  first  time,  that  under  her 
soft  and  gentle  exterior,  lay  feelings  and  passions  which  the 
world  would  never  dream  of. 

"  I  did  not  appear  to  notice  the  singular  emotion  she 
betrayed  at  that  altar,  but  it  recurred  to  me  afterwards,  and 
my  mind  was  filled  with  conjectures  about  its  cause. 
Surely  it  could  not  be  her  husband.  No  human  being  was 
ever  more  attentive  and  kind  to  a  wife  than  General  Har- 
rington was  to  his.  There  was  something  almost  chivalric 
in  his  devotion  to  her  wishes.  Was  it  her  son  ?  There  my 
heart  stood  still.  With  only  these  near  relatives  in  the 
world,  she  could  have  no  grief  which  did  not  relate  to  them 
or  one  of  them  at  least. 

"  That  night  Mrs.  Harrington  came  into  my  room,  which 
opened  upon  the  same  verandah  with  her  own.  She  sat 
down  on  the  sofa  I  occupied,  and  began  to  talk  to  me  of  the 
ceremonies  we  had  witnessed  that  day  in  the  cathedral. 
From  that  she  glided  gradually  to  other  subjects,  and  dwelt 
with  a  touch  of  sadness  on  the  impolicy  of  early  marriages. 
'  Her  own,'  she  said,  '  had  been  a  happy  one,  and  she  had 
married  at  sixteen ;  but  as  a  general  thing  she  would  advise 
no  girl  to  undertake  the  cares  of  domestic  life  under  two  or 
three  and  twenty.  Particularly  she  would  urge  this  on  me. 


Mabel's   Mistake.  241 

With  no  mother  to  guide  me  in  a  choice,  with  money  er  ough 
to  invite  venal  offers,  I  was,  she  thought,  liable  to  peculiar 
temptations.  Besides,'  she  added  sweetly,  '  I  have  no 
daughter,  and  crave  a  little  of  your  life,  for  there  will  come  a 
time  when  I  shall  be  very  lonely.' 

"  I  did  not  ask  her  when  that  time  would  be,  or  to  whom 
it  related,  but  sat  still,  mute  and  cold.  Was  James  Harring- 
ton engaged  ?  I  thought  of  Mrs.  Eaton's  vague  speeches 
regarding  him,  of  her  daughter's  blushes  and  Harrington's 
attention  to  her  that  day  when  I  seemed  utterly  forgotten. 
Was  the  kind  lady  preparing  me  ?  Had  she  seen  my  weak- 
ness !  Heavens,  how  my  heart  burned  within  me  that  I  had 
so  betrayed  myself  to  this  delicate  and  high-minded  woman, 
his  mother  too.  Wounded  pride  made  me  courageous.  I 
would  answer  carelessly.  She  should  never  know  that  I  had 
been  mute  from  Avant  of  speech.  1  arose  from  the  sofa  and 
drank  a  glass  of  water,  eagerly,  for  it  seemed  as  if  I  must 
strangle.  Then  I  said  with  a  laugh, 

"  *  You  have  something  to  tell  me.  Who  is  it  that  is 
likely  to  enter  into  an  early  marriage  !  certainly  it  is  not 
me.' 

" (  No  indeed,  I  have  little  fear  of  that,  but  they  have 
been  forcing  the  subject  on  me  since  I  came  home.  Why 
cannot  people  allow  a  family  to  rest  in  peace.  I  have  never 
seen  that  he  cared  so  much  for  the  girl.' 

" '  Of  whom  are  you  speaking  ? '  I  asked. 

"  '  Of  my  son  and  Miss  Eaton.' 

"  '  Is  he  then  engaged  to  her  ? ' 

11 '  I  do  not  understand  it,  but  the  General  seems  confident 
that  it  will  soon  come  about.  The  Eatons  are  enormously 
wealthy,  you  know,  and  Lucy  is  an  only  child.' 

"  '  But  what  of  that  ?  There  is  no  need  that  Mr.  Har- 
rington should  make  a  mercenary  marriage.  .Are  not  you 
rich,  and  is  not  he  an  only  son  ?  ' 

" '  Why  how  sharply  you  speak,  Mabel.    I  never  observed 


242  MabeVs   Mistake. 

your  voice  so  shrill  before,'  exclaimed  the  lady,  lifting  up 
her  two  delicate  hands  as  if  to  ward  off  a  disagreeable 
sound.  '  Upon  my  word  I  think  we  are  all  getting  cross. 
When  I  told  the  General  how  much  better  I  should  like 
you, — that  is,  how  much  better  I  did  like  you  than  that  pretty 
thing  with  the  blue  eyes,  he  asked  me  if  I  was  willing  to 
betray  the  young  creature  thrown  into  our  protection,  by 
giving  her  wealth  into  the  hands  of  my  own  son,  whom  I 
knew — ' 

"  She  checked  herself  and  turned  her  face  from  me  like  a 
guilty  child. 

"  '  When  you  knew  that  he  did  not  like  me  ? '  I  questioned, 
controlling  myself. 

" '  No,  no,  he  did  not  say  that.  Who  could  help  liking 
you,  Mabel  ?  It  was  love  he  was  talking  about.  She  said  it 
would  be  treacherous  to  let  him  entangle  you  for  your  money, 
when  I  was  sure  that  he  looked  upon  you  only  as  a  sister. 
I  said  that  we  were  not  sure  of  that  by  any  means.  Indeed, 
sometimes  it  had  seemed  to  me — Oh  Mabel,  how  wild 
you  look.  I  did  not  say  a  thing  to  wound  your  delicacy. 
There  is  not  a  lady  in  the  land  who  might  not  be  proud  of 
any  preference  James  Harrington  can  give.  I  only  thought 
that  General  Harrington  was  mistaken.  As  for  my  James 
liking  or  marrying  anybody  for  her  money,  the  idea  made 
me  quite  beside  myself  It  is  not  often  that  I  get  out  of 
temper,  but  this  really  made  me  angry.' 

" '  No  wonder,'  I  said.  '  It  was  unkind  indeed  in  the 
General  to  speak  of  me  in  that  way.' 

" '  No,  no,  you  quite  misunderstand  again.  General  Har- 
rington is  incapable  of  unkindness.  As  for  indelicacy,  a 
more  perfect  gentleman  never  lived.  His  sensitive  honor 
was  touched.  You  are  his  ward,  beautiful,  young,  rich. 
James'  is  his  step-son,  without  a  dollar  of  his  own,  wholly 
dependent  on  the  General — ' 

" '  But  I  thought  the  property  came  from  his  father.'      I 


Mabel's  Mistake.  243 

said  this  so  abruptly  that  it  brought  the  color  into  Mrs. 
Harrington's  face,  and  sent  the  hot  blood  into  my  own. 

" '  So  it  did,  but  my  husband  loved  me  dearly,  and  in  his 
will  gave  every  dollar  to  me  ;  knowing,  he  said,  that  I  would 
be  generous  with  our  only  child ;  and  so  I  have  been,  Mabel. 
The  General  is  liberal  to  a  fault.  James  never  wants  for 
money.' 

" '  But  he  is  a  man  now,  and  dependence  must  be 
irksome.' 

"  '  Oh,  he  is  not  dependent ;  that  feeling  is  impossible  with 
a  man  like  the  General.  James  knows  well  enough  that  the 
\\hole  property  will  be  his  when  my  husband  has  done  with 
it — that  is  made  sure  in  my  will ;  first  the  General,  then  my 
son.  I  should  be  a  wretched  woman  else.' 

" '  I  am  sure  you  will  do  right  in  the  end,'  I  said. 

"  '  I  had  thought  at  one  time  that  the  property  was  so  large 
and  had  increased  so  much  in  value,  that  it  would  be  well  to 
divide  it  and  give  James  half;  but  the  General  fancied  that 
it  might  take  him  too  much  away  from  us — that  he  might 
get  to  speculate  or  want  to  go  into  business, — a  thing 
none  of  the  Harringtons  ever  had  stooped  to,  and  we  decided 
to  put  it  off.  James  felt  a  little  hurt,  I  know,  but  it  was  all 
for  his  own  good,  and  because  his  society  is  so  dear  to  us.' 

"  I  think  the  woman  was  in  earnest,  and  had  no  idea  how 
unjust  she  seemed  in  thus  withholding  the  natural  inherit- 
ance of  her  son,  in  behalf  of  the  man  she  had  married. 
The  whole  thing  disturbed  me,  all  the  more  because  I  dared 
not  speak  out  the  revolt  of  my  own  feelings.  Mrs.  Harring- 
ton saw  this  in  my  face,  I  dare  say,  and  began  to  apologise 
about  troubling  me  with  family  matters. 

" '  Here,  I  came  to  have  a  little  chat  about  that  girl  Lucy, 
and  we  have  branched  off  into  discussions  on  money,  the  last 
thing  on  earth  that  I  ever  care  to  think  about,'  she  said. 
'  Now  tell  me,  do  you  think  that  she  is  so  very  pretty  ? ' 

" '  Yes,'  I  answered,  l  very  pretty.  I  have  seldom  seen 
anything  more  delicately  beautiful.' 


244  Mabefs   Mistake. 

"I  spoke  the  truth,  in  spite  of  all  the  bitter  feelings 
which  the  few  last  days  had  engendered.  That  girl's  beauty 
was  so  patent  that  even  prejudice  must  acknowledge  it. 
Nay,  in  my  determination  to  be  just,  her  perfections  were 
perhaps  a  little  exaggerated. 

"  l  There,  I  think  you  are  wrong,  Mabel.  I  have  seen  fifty 
prettier  girls  even  of  her  own  type — necks  like  lilies,  cheeks 
like  the  lip  of  a  sea  shell,  and  golden  hair.  But  I  like  color- 
ing, depth,  richness.  Now  in  my  estimation  you  are  fifty 
times  more  beautiful  than  Lucy  Eaton,  and  I  know  James 
thinks  so  in  spite  of  the  General's  belief  about  that  girl.; 

" '  Oh,  Mrs.  Harrington,  how  partial  and  how  kind  you 
are.' 

« t  Well,  I  should  like  to  have  any  one  look  at  you  now, 
and  say  if  I  am  wrong.  Why,  no  peach  was  ever  so  richly 
crimsoned  as  your  cheeks  this  moment,  and  as  for  the  eyes, 
Mabel,  you  have  splendid  eyes !  That  was  the  first  thing 
James  told  me  when  I  asked  about  you  ;  '  purplish  gray,'  he 
said,  with  such  curling  lashes,  their  glance  is  something  to 
remember  when  she  looks  up.' 

"  '  Did  Mr.  Harrington  say  this  ?  ' 

" '  Indeed  he  did,  and  a  great  deal  more.  Upon  my 
word,  Mabel,  I  think  he  was  taken  with  you  then.' 

" '  I  am  sure  you  are  mistaken.  We  scarcely  exchanged 
a  dozen  words/ 

"  '  But  James  has  his  eyes.' 

" 1 1  must  not  trust  my  ears  when  you  flatter  so  sweetly/ 
I  said. 

"  *  Well,  the  truth  is,  Mabel,  I  am  a  little  disappointed. 
My  heart,  I  may  as  well  own  it,  was  set  on  having  you  for  a 
daughter-in-law,  and  I  wont  believe  it  quite  impossible  yet. 
General  Harrington  is  so  nice  in  his  sense  of  honor,  but 
women  care  nothing  about  business,  and  the  idea  of  refusing 
a  noble  young  fellow  because  you  have  money,  is  just  ridicu- 
lous, especially  as  my  son  will  have  plenty  by  and  by,  don't 
you  think  so.' 


MabeTs   Mistake.  245 

"  '  It  would  be  where  love  existed,  certainly/  I  answered, 
ready  to  cast  myself  into  this  woman's  arms,  and  tell  her 
all  that  was  stirring  in  my  heart. 

"  '  Ah,  it  is  a  pity  that  you  could  not  have  fancied  him,' 
she  answered,  l  seeing  it  would  have  saved  him  from  this 
choice  which  General  Harrington  approves  so  much ;  hut  I 
cannot  believe  it  yet.' 

"  '  But  the  General  should  know.' 

" '  I  hope  not,  I  hope  not.  The  truth  is,  dear,  I  never 
could  like  the  girl,  and  as  for  her  mother,  the  very  idea  of  a 
connection  with  her  makes  me  shiver.' 

"  '  She  certainly  is  not  a  pleasant  woman,'  I  said. 

" '  Pleasant !  but  we  will  not  talk  of  her.  Mercy !  that  is 
her  voice,  let  me  escape.'  " 


CHAPTEE  XLIL 

A   DUKE   IN   THE   HOUSE. 

"  MRS.  HARRINGTON  gathered  up  the  cloud-like  drapery 
of  her  white  dress,  and  glided  out  of  the  room.  She  was 
certainly  a  lovely  woman,  sweet  and  gentle  as  a  child,  with 
nerve  and  energy,  too,  as  I  afterwards  found  out ;  but  that 
night  she  had  wounded  me  terribly,  and  I  was  glad  to  see 
her  go. 

"  I  sat  down  on  the  couch  when  quite  alone,  and  cover- 
ing my  face  with  both  hands,  struggled  hard  to  free  the 
tears  that  weighed  down  my  heart.  It  seemed  that  some 
wrong  had  been  done  me, — that  the  whole  Harrington  fam- 
ily was  in  league  to  break  up  my  life  before  it  had  really 
commenced.  But  I  could  not  shed  a  tear,  a  keen  sense  of 
shame  kept  me  from  the  relief  of  weeping.  Shame  that  I, 
a  young  girl,  should  suffer  thus  from  a  knowledge  of  anoth- 


246  Mabel's  Mistake. 

er's  happiness.  Yes,  I  was  bitterly  ashamed,  and  shut  my 
face  out  from  the  mirror  before  me,  afraid  to  look  upon  my 
own  humiliation.  Did  they  know  it  ?  Had  that  aristo- 
cratic old  man  guessed  at  my  weakness,  and  sent  his  wife 
there  to  convince  me  how  hopeless  it  was  ?  Not  directly — 
not  in  any  way  that  she  could  recognise  as  a  mission  ;  that 
was  impossible  to  a  woman  so  sensitive,  but  was  she  not  the 
unconscious  instrument  of  his  keener  penetration  ? 

"  While  I  was  tormenting  myself  with  these  fears,  Mrs. 
Eaton  came  in,  swinging  her  lilac  parasol,  and  with  her  rich 
lace  shawl  trailing  to  the  ground. 

"  '  Oh,  I  have  come  to  tell  you  one  must  have  confidence 
in  some  persons,  or  the  heart  would  give  out,  you  know. 
Guess  who  it  was  that  Lucy  and  I  met  in  the  Court  of 
Oranges,  just  now.' 

"  '  I  cannot  tell.     Mr.  Harrington,  perhaps  ! ' 

" '  Mr.  Harrington,  no  indeed.  We  can  meet  him  at 
any  time.  It  was  his  Highness,  the  duke,  walking  quite 
alone,  under  the  orange  trees,  with  a  slender  little  cane  in 
his  hand,  that  he  was  beating  the  branches  with,  all  in  a 
brown  study,  showering  down  the  blossoms  among  his  gold 
buttons — so  romantic — and  in  his  glossy  hair.  Lucy  gave  a 
little  scream  when  she  saw  him,  and  clasped  her  hands  so. 
The  duke  gave  a  start  and  came  toward  us,  then  checked 
himself  and  begged  pardon  in  such  delicious  Spanish,  only 
we  couldn't  quite  understand  it.  He  saw  that,  and  broke  a 
twig  of  orange  blossoms  from  one  of  the  branches  bending 
over  him,  and  gave  it  to  Lucy  with  an  air — I  cannot  describe 
it — but  you  never  saw  anything  so  prjjicely.  Lucy  blushed 
beautifully,  and  fastened  the  orange  blossoms  in  her  bosom. 
He  smiled  then,  and  gave  her  such  a  look.  There  is  no  two 
ways  about  it,  Miss  Crawford,  that  girl  of  mine  was  born  to 
wear  the  purple.  Her  head  is  just  the  size  for  a  coronet. 
Why  not  ?  The  empress  Josephine  was  no  handsomer  than 
my  Lucy.  As  for  family,  who  has  got  anything  to  say 


MabeTs   Mistake.  247 

against  any  genteel  American  family  being  good  enough  to 
marry  dukes,  and  emperors  too,  providing  they've  got  money 
enough  ? ' 

"  The  woman  tired  me  dreadfully.  I  was  too  wretched  for 
any  enjoyment  of  her  absurdities,  or  they  might  have 
amused  me.  I  answered  her  with  civility,  and  tried  my  best 
to  fasten  some  attention  on  the  ridiculous  things  she  was 
saying,  but  an  under  current  of  painful  thought  disturbed 
me  all  the  while. 

"  '  Now  I  tell  you  this  in  the  strictest  confidence,  remem- 
ber,' she  went  on  to  say.  'I  must  have  some  one  to  rely 
upon  ;  but  not  a  word  to  the  Harringtons.  You  know  the 
old  adage,  '  It's  well  to  be  off  with  an  old  love,  before  you 
are  on  with  a  new.'  Promise  not  to  say  a  word  about  it, 
Miss  Crawford.' 

"  '  I  shall  not  speak — I  shall  not  care  to  speak  to  any  one 
about  it,'  I  answered  almost  impatiently,  I  fear,  for  the  wo- 
man was  tormenting  me  beyond  endurance. 

" '  But  I  did  not  tell  you  all.  When  we  came  home  it 
happened,  I  really  can't  tell  how,  that  the  duke  moved  along 
with  us,  and  when  we  got  to  the  hotel  I  could  not  avoid  ask- 
ing him  in.  He  understood  my  Spanish  splendidly,  and 
when  Lucy  ventured  on  a  few  words,  seemed  perfectly 
delighted.  Miss  Crawford,  say  nothing  about  it,  but  he's  in 
there  now.' 

" '  What,  with  Miss  Eaton  ? ' 

"  '  Yes,  he's  there  talking  to  her.  I  don't  suppose  she  can 
make  out  all  he  says,  but  some  people  talk  with  their  eyes, 
you  know.  What  magnificent  eyes  he  has.  Did  you  notice, 
Miss  Crawford  ? 5 

"  '  No,  I  did  not  observe.' 

" '  But  he  has.  Well,  good  night.  I  mustn't  stay  out  too 
long.  Remember,  not  a  word  to  any  human  being.' 

"  With  a  sensation  of  relief  I  saw  this  silly  woman  leave 
the  room.  Why  should  she  come  there  to  mingle  so  much 


Mabets   Mistake. 

of  contempt  with  the  pain  I  was  suffering!     Can  this  be 
true? 

"  How  many  times  during  the  night  I  asked  myself  this 
question  !  Each  time  my  heart  turned  away  humiliated  and 
wounded.  I  did  not  sleep,  I  could  not.  All  the  pride  of 
my  nature  was  up  in  arms.  Why  did  she  drag  up  this 
question  of  money  ?  Are  such  things  to  render  every  senti- 
ment of  the  soul  coarse  and  earthy,  by  mingling  with  them 
as  the  better  element  ?  *What  wild  thoughts  came  over  me 
as  I  lay  awake  that  long  night !  How  I  reasoned  for  and 
against  the  thing  I  dreaded.  With  what  keen  scrutiny  I 
criticised  every  word  and  look  of  his  during  our  acquain- 
tance ! » 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

HOPES    AND    PERSUASIONS. 

"  IN  the  morning  my  head  and  heart  both  ached  with  the 
strain  of  thought  which  had  racked  them  so  piteously.  I 
shrank  nervously  from  appearing  before  any  of  my  tormen- 
tors. But  they  came  to  my  door,  wondering  what  kept  me 
so  late.  There  was  to  be  a  splendid  religious  procession 
that  day.  All  the  churches  of  Seville  were  to  send  forth  their 
imaged  Madonnas  in  great  splendor,  with  attending  priests, 
that  their  worshipers  might  see  them  by  broad  daylight. 
Great  preparations  had  been  made  on  this  occasion,  for  one 
Madonna  of  wonderful  potency  was  to  be  brought  forth  from 
her  convent  for  the  first  time  in  ninety  years.  The  convent 
Montes  Serat  being  one  of  most  holy  repute,  and  at  a  dis- 
tance from  the  city,  had  not,  for  nearly  a  century,  joined  in 
the  procession  of  the  holy  week;  but  now  its  famous 
Madonna  was  coming  forth  from  her  sacred  privacy,  rich 


Mabefs   Mistake.  249 

in  the  gifts  of  her  votaries,  resplendent  with  the  jewels 
which  attested  her  superior  sanctity. 

"  The  advent  of  no  crowned  monarch  into  his  capital  ever 
produced  a  greater  sensation  than  this  coming  of  our  Lady 
of  Monies  Serat.  It  awoke  a  strong  spirit  of  rivalry  in  all 
the  churches  of  Seville.  Fair  devotees  emptied  their  jewel 
cases  in  hehalf  of  their  favorite  Madonnas — nothing  was 
withheld  which  female  pride  could  bestow  on  the  object  of 
its  religious  idolatry.  So,  for  a  time,  all  Seville  was  in  a 
tumult  of  ambitious  rivalry,  and  out  of  this  was  sure  to 
come  the  most  brilliant  day  of  the  holy  week.  I  had  not 
cared  to  go  to  this  exhibition,  but  General  Harrington  had 
secured  a  balcony  overlooking  that  of  the  Infanta  and  her 
suite.  It  was  to  be  a  splendid  procession,  they  said,  and  I 
should  regret  it  forever  if  they  permitted  me  to  remain  at 
home. 

"I  found  it  easier  to  submit  than  to  contend,  but  still 
hesitated,  Avhen  James  Harrington  came  up  to  the  verandah 
where  we  were  sitting,  and  leaning  over  my  chair,  whispered 
a  request  that  I  should  go.  His  manner  was  almost  caress- 
ing, and  there  thrilled  through  his  voice  such  genuine 
anxiety,  that  I  could  hardly  suppress  the  quick  leaping  of 
my  heart,  or  speak  at  first,  it  throbbed  so  loudly.  The  rest 
had  left  us  and  we  were  alone. 

" '  Do  go  !     It  seems  an  age  since  I  have  seen  you  except 
in  a  crowd,'  he  said,  drawing  a  chair  to  mine. 
" '  But  this  will  be  a  crowd,  also ! ' 
"  '  Not  for  us.' 

"  I  looked  up  suddenly  and  felt  the  warm  crimson  leap 
to  my  face,  when  my  eyes  met  his. 

"  '  Let  us  be  happy  this  once,'  he  said,  '  the  crowd  itself 
will  be  well  worth  seeing.  Besides,  the  Infanta  will  be 
there,  with  her  husband,  Le  Due  de  Montpensier.  Then 
remember  that  the  Princess  Clementina,  wife  of  the  Prince 
of  Saxe  Coburg  will  be  of  the  party, — quite  a  nest  of  roy- 


250  Mabels  Mistake. 

alty,  you  will  find ;  just  the  persons  that  I  for  one  should 
like  to  see.' 

"  '  And  so  would  I.     My  heart  always  warms  toward  the 
children  of  that  good  man,  Louis  Philippe/   I  answered. 
"  <  Then  you  will  go  ? ' 

" '  Yes,  I  will  certainly  go ;  the  promise  of  seeing  all 
these  interesting  persons  makes  me  almost  impatient.' 

"  '  Ah,  how  bright  you  look  ;  we  shall  have  a  pleasant  day. 
Mother  is  getting  ready.  She  seems  to  be  feeling  young  as 
a  girl.  Did  you  ever  see  any  one  change  as  she  has  since 
we  came  to  Seville  ?  ' 

"  '  The  General  was  speaking  of  it  this  morning,'  I  replied. 
'  She  is  so  well  and  happy,'  he  said,  '  that  I  can  hardly 
think  of  moving  yet.  The  very  air  of  Seville  carries  balm 
with  it.' 

"  Harrington  turned  away  and  walked  to  a  window,  as  if 
I  had  said  something  to  disturb  him.  After  a  little  he  came 
back  again  with  the  air  of  a  man  who  had  flung  aside  some 
unpleasant  burden,  and  began  to  talk  of  the  country  we 
were  in. 

" '  What  a  calm,  delicious  climate  it  is,'  he  said,  '  I 
wonder  people  can  get  angry  or  very  much  in  earnest  here. 
For  myself  this  country  life  seems  like  floating  at  will  on 
some  lake,  with  scarcely  air  enough  to  stir  a  sail,  or  ripple 
foam  wreaths  around  the  prow  of  one's  boat ;  the  very  breath 
we  draw  is  a  luxury.' 

"  '  A  sad  one  sometimes,'  I  answered,  '  the  very  solitude 
and  repose  which  steal  over  one,  enfeebles  the  spirit  and 
makes  life  too  harmonious  for  improvement  either  of  the 
mind  or  heart.  Continued  life  in  a  place  like  this,  would  rob 
an  American  of  his  last  attribute, — a  love  of  progression. 
Rest  and  sensuous  enjoyment  were  not  intended  for  a  people 
like  us.  Yet  the  place  is  so  lovely,  I  feel  like  a  traitor  while 
saying  this.' 

"  He  looked  at  me  with  unconscious  earnestness,  sighed 


Mabel's   Mistake.  251 

gently  and  paced  the  room  once  or  twice  before  he  resumed 
the  subject. 

" '  You  are  right ;  a  soul  worth  having  would  never  con- 
tent itself  with  the  drowsy  sweetness  of  a  life  like  this. 
After  all,  the  great  glory  of  existence  lies  in  action.' 

"'And  the  greatest  happiness;'  I  answered,  with  a 
dreamy  sense  of  the  inaction  to  which  I,  as  a  woman,  was 
forever  consigned. 

" '  You  speak  with  the  feeling  of  a  man,  shut  out  from 
his  proper  career,'  he  said,  '  there,  I  think  you  and  I  can 
have  sympathy  ;  only  the  life  of  a  woman  should  be  restful, 
and  full  of  love.' 

" '  And  I  of  a  man  ? '  I  questioned. 

" '  You  must  not  ask  that  question  of  a  man  shut  out 
from  action,  and — and  even  from  the  woman's  privilege  of 
loving.' 

"What  was  there  in  my  expression  that  changed  his  so 
instantly  ?  Could  he  discover  in  my  eyes  the  brightness  that 
had  come  over  me  with  the  sound  of  his  voice,  tender  and 
impressive  as  it  had  been  that  day  among  the  water  lilies  ? 
I  do  not  know,  but  in  a  moment  a  cloud  crept  over  his  face, 
and  a  chill  into  his  voice. 

"  '  Excuse  me,  if  I  have  pressed  you  over  much,'  he  said. 
'  But  it  is  a  lovely  day  and  the  procession  will  be  well  worth 
seeing.  If  it  would  not  be  considered  sacrilegious  among  so 
many  good  Catholics,  I  should  say,  there  would  be  a  rivalry 
amov.g  the  Madonnas.  You  will  go  ? ' 

" '  Yes,'  I  answered,  sinking  into  depression  again,  '  as 
well  there  as  here.  Who  will  be  of  our  party  ? ' 

" '  Oh,  the  General,  and  my  mother,  of  course,  with  the 
Eatons.  That  will  be  enough  to  fill  the  balcony.' 

"I  felt  the  blood  growing  warm  in  my  cheeks.  Why 
must  those  Eatons  forever  compose  a  portion  of  our  party  ? 
Could  no  one  see  how  I  detested  this  eternal  companionship 
with  persons  who  had  not  a  single  idea  or  principle  in  com- 
mon with  us  ? 


MabeFs   Mistake. 

"  Just  then  Miss  Eaton  came  into  the  balcony  —  her 
transparent  muslin  dress  looped  up  at  the  sleeves  and  throat 
with  delicate  blue  ribbons,  floating  like  a  cloud  around  her, 
and  a  wreath  of  forget-me-nots  relieving  the  snow-white 
chip  of  her  bonnet.  Her  parasol  was  frosted  over  with 
soft  Brussels  lace,  and  a  better  dressed  or  more  beautiful 
creature  I  have  seldom  set  my  eyes  upon.  James  Har- 
rington left  my  chair  the  moment  she  appeared.  Taking 
the  parasol  from  her  hand,  he  commenced  playing  with  it  as 
he  conversed  with  her,  lightly,  carelessly,  and  with  such 
smiles  as  he  had  not  given  me  in  many  a  long  day. 

"  At  times  one  gets  in  love  with  pain,  to  abridge  it  seems 
like  cowardice.  What  mattered  it  whether  I  suffered  a  lit- 
tle more  or  less,  since  suffering  was  so  early  become  my 
destiny  ?  This  girl,  with  her  bright  beauty  and  soft  words, 
superseded  me  every  where  ;  yet  she  did  not  seem  to  prize 
the  homage  for  which  I  famished,  but  stood  there,  smiling 
up  in  his  face,  and  dropping  a  sweet  word  now  and  then, 
carelessly,  as  she  would  have  given  sugar  to  a  parrot." 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

THE   INFANTA   AND    HER   GUESTS. 

"  I  WENT  into  my  room  and  threw  a  world  of  bitter  energy 
into  my  toilet,  angry  with  myself  for  not  being  beautiful 
enough  to  win  one  heart  from  that  pretty  face,  angry  with 
him  that  he  could  not  understand  the  depth  of  feeling  and 
of  thought  which  made  my  preference  so  much  more  worthy 
than  anything  that  young  creature  could  ever  feel.  I  had 
a  cruel  pleasure  in  depreciating  myself,  and  almost  hated 
the  face  which  looked  into  mine  half  angrily  from  the  glass. 
Its  large  gray  eyes,  with  their  thick  lashes,  seemed  heavy 


Mabefs  Mistake.  253 

with  unshed  tears.  There  was  a  frown  on  the  forehead, 
rendering  it  dark  and  turbulent.  The  mouth  harmonized 
with  this  stormy  look,  and  trembled  into  half  sarcastic 
smiles,  as  if  each  feature  reviled  the  other.  Now  I  was 
larger,  taller,  more  pronounced  in  face  and  person  than  the 
pretty  fairy  who  could  entertain  him  so  flippantly,  while  I 
sat  dumb  and  silent  in  his  presence.  No  wonder  I  hated 
myself,  yet  many  persons  had  thought  me  good  looking,  and 
I  could  recollect  a  thousand  compliments  on  my  talents  and 
powers  of  pleasing,  which  came  to  me  then  like  remembered 
mockeries. 

"  I  made  no  effort  to  look  beautiful,  but  over  my  simple 
white  dress  threw  a  lace  mantilla,  fastening  it  to  my  head 
with  clusters  of  tea  roses,  and  allowing  it  to  sweep  over  my 
person,  black  and  shadowy,  like  the  thoughts  that  haunted 
my  mind.  This  was  a  common  dress  among  the  Spanish 
ladies,  and  I  put  it  on  that  day  for  the  first  time,  thinking  to 
escape  the  observation  that  a  foreign  costume  was  sure  to 
provoke.  Miss  Eaton  gave  an  exclamation  of  delight  when 
I  went  down  to  the  parlor.  If  any  thing  could  inspire  her 
to  enthusiasm  it  was  a  novelty  in  dress. 

"  '  Oh,  how  charming  !  And  you  have  turned  Spaniard,' 
she  said,  clasping  her  little  hands  and  examining  me  from 
head  to  foot,  in  a  sort  of  rapture.  '  Ain't  she  splendid,  Mr. 
Harrington !  Those  crimson  roses  look  superb  in  the  black 
lace.  I  am  sick  of  my  bonnet.  Just  hold  my  parasol  while 
I  make  myself  a  senorita  also.' 

"  She  ran  out  of  the  room,  snatching  some  orange 
blossoms  from  a  vase  as  she  went,  and  sending  back  soft 
gushes  of  an  opera  song  to  us. 

" '  What  a  light-hearted  creature  she  is,'  said  Harrington, 
watching  her  with  admiring  eyes  as  she  floated  off.  'A 
lovely  face,  don't  you  think  so  ? ' 

" '  Yes,  I  think  so,  a  very  lovely  face.' 

"  Perhaps  some'  of  the  bitterness  in  my  heart  found  its 


254  MabeFs   Mistake. 

way  through  my  voice.  Something  there  was  which  dis- 
turbed James  Harrington.  He  turned  and  looked  at  me 
keenly,  seemed  about  to  make  some  reply,  but  checked  him- 
self and  began  to  play  with  the  coral  handle  of  Lucy's 
parasol.  Directly,  Lucy  Eaton  came  back  more  like  a  sum- 
mer cloud  than  ever,  for  over  her  head  she  had  thrown  a 
veil  of  Brussels  point,  delicate  as  a  mist,  and  white  as  frost. 
But  for  her  canary  colored  gloves  and  blue  ribbons,  she 
would  have  appeared  in  absolute  bridal  costume,  for  she  had 
twisted  the  orange  blossoms  into  a  pretty  garland  which 
held  the  veil  or  mantilla  over  her  head,  and  was  blushing 
like  a  rose  with  a  sense  of  her  own  completeness. 

"  We  started  for  the  public  square  through  which  the  pro- 
cession was  to  pass.  The  streets  were  full  of  people,  men, 
women,  and  children,  all  in  their  richest  costume,  and  bril- 
liant with  expectation.  Every  woman  had  the  national  fall 
of  lace  on  her  head,  almost  invariably  fastened  with  clusters 
of  natural  roses ;  some  of  these  mantillas  were  marvels  of 
costly  work,  and  fell  shadow-like  over  those  soft  summer 
dresses,  giving  them  a  graceful  and  cloud-like  lightness.  All 
Seville  was  on  foot,  no  carriages  are  permitted  in  the  street 
during  the  holy  week.  Poor  and  rich  were,  for  the  time, 
on  a  perfect  level,  and  each  came  forth  well  dressed  and 
radiant,  to  honor  the  most  interesting  spectacle  known  to 
the  nation.  It  was  like  looking  down  on  an  out  door  opera 
when  we  entered  the  queint  stone  balcony  reserved  for  us, 
with  fresh  palm  leaves  inte*.  woven  in  the  carved  work,  and 
cushioned  chairs  waiting  for  our  occupation.  No  flower 
garden  was  ever  more  radiant  and  blooming.  Hundreds 
of  colored  parasols  swayed  towards  the  sun  like  mammoth 
poppies,  gay  fans  kept  the  air  in  perpetual  motion.  Pretty 
white  hands  twinkled  recognition  from  friend  to  friend; 
floating  lace  gave  a  cloud-like  softness  to  the  whole  scene, 
indescribably  beautiful.  All  was  eagerness  and  gay  com- 
motion. On  the  outskirts  of  the  square,  horsemen  with 


MabeVs   Mistake.  255 

arms  at  their  sides,  were  stationed  like  statues.  The  bal- 
conies were  hung  with  gorgeously  tinted  draperies,  crowded 
with  beautiful  women  and  garlanded  with  flowers. 

"  One  balcony,  more  spacious  than  the  rest,  was  richly 
ornamented  Avith  draperies  of  crimson  velvet  falling  from  a 
gilded  crown  over  head,  and  drawn  back  by  cords  of  heavy 
bullion.  A  flight  of  steps  led  to  this  balcony  from  the  street, 
and  altogether  it  had  a  look  of  regal  magnificence  which 
drew  the  general  attention  that  way. 

"  While  we  were  occupied  with  this  novel  scene,  a  hum 
and  murmur  of  voices  drew  the  general  attention  toward  one 
of  the  principal  streets  entering  the  square.  This  was 
followed  by  a  general  commotion  in  the  crowd,  through 
which  a  murmur,  like  that  of  hiving  bees,  ran  to  and  fro ; 
ladies  stood  up,  parasols  swayed  confusedly,  expectation  was  in 
every  face. 

"Directly  the  cause  of  all  this  excitement  became 
apparent.  The  Infanta  had  entered  the  square,  and  was 
approaching  the  royal  balcony.  She  was  a  lovely  woman, 
very  young  and  in  the  full  bloom  of  her  beauty,  dark-eyed, 
dark-haired,  well  formed,  and  carrying  herself  with  queenly 
dignity,  which  it  is  said  the  sovereign  herself  does  not  equal. 
The  slanting  sunbeams  fell  directly  upon  her  as  she  passed 
by  our  balcony  in  full  state ;  the  train  of  her  dress,  blue  as 
the  sky,  and  looped  with  clusters  of  pink  roses,  was  carried 
by  four  noblemen,  all  richly  attired,  as  if  the  street  had 
been  some  palace  hall.  Her  dress  was  looped  back  at  the 
shoulders  with  aigrette  of  diamonds,  whose  pendent  sparks 
dropped  half  way  to  the  elbow,  quivering  like  fire  from  be- 
neath the  long  white  mantilla  that  swept  over  her  person  as 
sweeps  the  blue  of  a  summer  sky.  The  veil  was  fastened  to 
her  graceful  head  by  a  tiara  of  the  same  pure  gems,  which 
twinkled  through  it  like  starlight  on  frost.  Her  walk  was 
queenly,  her  look  full  of  sweet  womanliness.  They  tell  me 
she  is  prettier  and  more  popular  than  the  queen,  and  I  can 
readily  believe  it,  for  this  young  creature  is  very  lovely. 
16 


256  Mabels  Mistake. 

"  The  steps  of  the  royal  balcony  descended  directly  to  the 
pavement.  The  Infanta  mounted  them,  gliding  upward 
with  the  grace  of  a  bird  of  paradise,  followed  by  her  train- 
bearers.  Directly  after  she  was  seated,  the  balcony  filled 
from  a  room  beyond  it,  into  which  the  royal  party  had  as- 
sembled. Le  Due  de  Montpensier,  his  sister,  Princess 
Clementina,  and  her  husband,  the  Duke  of  Saxe  Coburg,  the 
cousin  of  Prince  Albert  of  England,  and  two  or  three  pretty 
children,  mingled  with  the  group,  giving  it  a  domestic  grace 
pleasant  to  contemplate." 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

THE   PROCESSION    OF   THE   MADONNAS. 

"Now  the  procession  commenced.  Lines  of  solemn 
monks,  with  their  gray  gowns  fastened  at  the  waist  with 
rope  girdles,  came  out  of  their  monasteries  and  reverently  fol- 
lowed the  particular  Madonna  worshipped  by  their  order,  as 
she  was  carried  around,  standing  on  a  platform  carpeted 
with  velvet,  dressed  sumptuously,  like  a  woman  of  the  world. 
Some  of  these  Madonnas  were  covered  with  jewels  richer 
and  in  greater  profusion  than  those  worn  by  the  Infanta 
herself.  One,  our  Lady  of  Montes  Serat,  was  elevated  on 
a  platform  ten  feet  long,  carried  by  eight  stalwart  priests. 
The  platform  was  carpeted  with  crimson  velvet,  ornamented 
at  the  sides  with  heavy  bullion  fringe.  Her  black  velvet 
robe  was  studded  with  diamonds  over  the  whole  length  of  its 
Ample  and  flowing  train.  This  swept  back  to  the  verge  of 
ihe  platform  in  heavy  folds,  while  adown  the  front  was  one 
maze  of  jewels,  covering  the  velvet  so  thickly  that  you  could 
scarcely  see  it.  A  mantilla  of  such  lace  as  cannot  be 
bought  for  gold,  fell  over  her  shoulders,  and  in  her  stiff  hand 


MabeVs  Mistake.  257 

she  carried  a  marvel   of  point  lace   which,  with  a  living 
person,  would  have  answered  for  a  pocket  handkerchief. 

"  Six  tall  tapers  of  white  wax  shed  their  refulgence  over 
the  image,  lighting  up  all  its  wealth  of  jewels,  and  its 
sweeping  draperies  into  wonderful  magnificence.  The 
platform  was  strewn  with  garlands  and  freshly  gathered 
roses,  which  perfumed  the  air  as  she  passed  through  thou- 
sands and  thousands  who  looked  upon  her  with  smiles  of 
wonder  and  adoration. 

"  Just  as  this  particular  Madonna  came  slowly  in  sight,  a 
glorious  sunset  poured  its  last  beams  upon  us,  filling  the 
square  with  an  atmosphere  of  sifted  gold.  In  the  midst  of 
this  refulgence,  and  just  as  our  Lady  of  Montes  Serat  was 
approaching  the  royal  balcony,  a  strange  scene  surprised  us. 

"  The  worshipers  of  a  rival  Madonna,  composed  of  priests 
in  sweeping  robes  that  trailed  along  the  street  some  ten  or 
fifteen  feet,  and  tall  caps,  like  extinguishers,  on  the  head — 
crowded  so  close  upon  our  Lady  of  Montes  Serat,  that  the 
whole  procession  was  thrown  into  confusion.  One  priest 
trod  on  the  trailing  garments  of  another,  forcing  him  back 
against  his  brethren.  Bitter  rivalry  between  the  followers 
of  both  Madonnas  was  at  work.  The  two  images  were 
crowded  together  and  hustled  before  the  balcony  in  which 
the  Infanta  sat,  surrounded  by  her  royal  guests  ;  but  the 
priests  still  in  confusion  broke  line  arid  fell  upon  each 
other,  dealing  blows  that  might  have  come  from  prize- 
fighters. The  guard  took  alarm,  swords  flashed  from  their 
scabbards.  A  wild  cry  arose  from  the  crowd.  The  tornado 
of  a  great  panic  swept  over  it,  and  while  we  looked  on  ter- 
rified, a  cloud  of  dust,  a  few  troopers  riding  madty  about 
with  drawn  swords,  and  the  rival  Madonnas,  standing  stiff 
and  stately  before  the  Infanta's  balcony,  were  all  that 
remained  of  the  crowd,  or  the  pageant. 

"  The  square  was  empty,  but  every  street  leading  to  it 
was  closed  up  with  frightened  people.  The  Infanta  arose; 


258  Mabel's   Mistake. 

knelt  first  to  one  virgin,  then  to  the  other,  with  impartial 
homage,  and  one  of  her  officers  gave  some  order  from  a 
window  of  the  house.  Instantly  every  lamp  in  the  square 
hlazed  into  brilliant  light,  and  the  people  came  crowding 
hack  rapidly  as  they  had  left.  The  priests  fell  into  line, 
and  the  Infanta,  sweeping  down  those  halcony  steps  with 
her  four  train  hearers,  placed  herself  in  front  of  our  Lady 
of  Montes  Serat,  and  led  the  procession  forward  in  her  own 
person. 

"  When  the  panic  was  at  its  height,  and  the  rush  of 
people  underneath  our  balcony  was  like  a  stampede  of  wjld 
animals,  I  felt  myself  growing  faint,  and  looked  around 
for  something  to  rest  against.  That  instant  an  arm  sup- 
ported me  and  a  voice  whispered,  '  Do  not  be  frightened, 
you  are  safe.' 

"  I  started  from  his  arms  lest  he  should  feel  the  quick 
beating  of  my  heart,  and  replied  quickly  that  I  was  not 
afraid. 

"  He  left  me  then,  and  I  could  have  cried  with  vexation 
at  receiving  his  kindness  so  ungraciously.  What  must  he 
think  of  me  ? 

"  While  I  was  blaming  myself  and  wondering  how  I 
could  redeem  this  seeming  coolness,  Mrs.  Eaton  called 
James  Harrington  into  the  room  from  which  our  balcony 
opened,  where  she  held  an  animated  conversation  with 
him.  Lucy  remained  behind.  I  noticed  that  she  leaned 
over  the  railing  and  seemed  anxious  about  some  one  who 
had  evidently  been  swept  off  with  the  crowd,  which  was 
then  gathering  back  to  the  square.  Directly  I  saw  her 
face  brighten,  and  looking  downward  for  the  cause  saw  the 
young  man  whom  we  had  met  on  the  steamboat,  lean- 
ing against  a  lamp  post  and  looking  up  to  our  balcony  in  an 
easy,  familiar  way,  that  annoyed  me.  Still  I  could  not 
withhold  some  admiration  from  the  man.  He  certainly  was 
a  splendid  creature,  formed  in  the  perfection  of  manly 


Mabets   Mistake.  259 

strength,  and  quite  handsome  enough  to  turn  the  head  of  a 
vain  girl  like  Lucy. 

"  I  watched  the  movements  of  these  two  persons  listlessly, 
for  the  faintness  had  not  quite  left  me,  and  they  seemed  to 
me  like  creatures  in  a  dream.  I  saw  Lucy  take  a  note 
from  her  bosom  and  tie  it  to  a  spray  of  orange  blossoms 
which  she  had  been  wearing  there.  This  she  held  a  mo- 
ment carefully  in  her  hands,  then  leaning  over  the  railing 
dropped  it. 

"  Had  her  mother  called  James  Harrington  away,  that 
Lucy  might  be  left  unwatched,  to  give  this  signal  to  her 
strange  admirer?  All  this  seemed  like  it.  How  innocent 
she  looked  when  James  came  back  to  the  balcony !  No  sun- 
shine ever  touched  a  red  rose  more  sweetly  than  the  smile 
settled  on  her  lips  when  he  came  and  bent  over  her  chair." 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

WHERE   WE    SAW    THE   DUKE. 

"  THE  Holy  Week  is  over,  carriages  once  more  appear  in 
the  streets.  The  world  claims  its  own  again.  I  have  been 
to  a  bull  fight  and  am  even  now  shivering  with  disgust  of 
myself.  Still,  it  was  a  magnificent  spectacle — that  grand 
amphitheatre  of  beautiful  faces,  the  hilarity  and  gay  confus- 
ion, the  open  homage,  the  child-like  enjoyment.  Until  these 
wild,  brave  animals  came  bounding  into  the  arena,  there 
was  nothing  in  the  scene  which  any  out-door  amusement 
might  not  exhibit.  Indeed,  the  gathering  of  an  assembly 
in  Spain  is  full  of  spirited  life.  If  a  woman  is  beautiful,  a 
hundred  voices  tell  her  so  as  she  presents  herself  to  the 
general  gaze.  When  our  party  enteped  the  amphitheatre,  a 
general  murmur  of  admiring  comments  hailed  us.  Beau- 


260  Mabels  Mistake. 

tiful — superb — fair  as  a  lily — bright  as  an  angel !  were  the 
exclamations  that  followed  that  lovely  creature  as  she 
moved  to  her  seat,  leaning  upon  James  Harrington's  arm. 
No  wonder  he  looked  proud  of  her  ! 

"  Mrs.  Harrington  did  not  care  to  see  a  scene  so  revolt- 
ing, and  I  would  have  stayed  at  home  gladly,  but  they 
refused  to  hear  of  it,  reason  as  I  might.  It  seems  as  if 
they  were  determined  to  chain  me  like  a  slave  to  this  girl's 
chariot  wheels.  Well,  I  can  endure  it.  There  must  have 
been  thousands  of  persons  present,  for  the  great  amphi- 
theatre was  full  long  before  the  Infanta  appeared  with  her 
family  and  her  royal  guests.  She  was  received  with  excla- 
mations, and  took  her  seat  with  a  slight  bow  of  recognition 
and  a  smile  full  of  eloquent  thanks  for  the  popular  favor  so 
pleasantly  manifested.  Two  or  three  lovely  children  were 
in  the  box,  evidently  eager  for  the  fighting  to  commence. 
Soon  after  the  Infanta  was  seated,  a  man  richly  dressed, 
and  of  noble  presence,  strode  acress  the  arena,  flung  his  cap 
on  the  ground,  and  made  a  profound  bow  to  the  royal  party. 
The  Infanta  arose,  leaned  a  little  forward  and  cast  a  golden 
key  at  his  feet.  This  key  was  to  unlock  the  door  which 
connected  the  arena  with  the  compartment  outside,  in  which 
the  wild  bulls  were  kept. 

"  All  this  time  the  man  had  stood  with  his  back  toward 
us.  When  he  stooped  to  pick  up  the  key  and  turned  from 
the  presence,  Lucy  Eaton  uttered  a  faint  cry,  and  her  mother 
caught  hold  of  my  arm  with  a  grasp  that  pained  me.  '  Oh 
mercy — oh  mercy !  It  is — it  is  the  Duke,'  she  exclaimed, 
'  What  can  he  be  doing  there  ? ' 

" '  I  think  it  is  his  place,'  I  answered  in  a  low  voice. 
'  Hush,  I  would  say  nothing  about  it.' 

"  I  looked  at  Lucy.  She  was  white  as  snow,  and  her 
eyes  dwelt  on  the  man  with  a  frightened  stare. 

"  '  Why  is  he  there  ?  '  she  whispered,  shivering  percepti- 
bly. f  Tell  me,  if  you  can,  what  it  means.' 


Mabel's  Mistake.  261 

" ( What  are  you  inquiring  about  ? '  questioned  General 
Harrington,  bending  toward  us  with  suave  politeness. 
1  Anything  that  I  can  tell  you  ? ' 

"  c  Who  is  that  man  ?  '  I  inquired,  observing  that  Lucy 
could  not  speak  without  bursting  into  tears. 

«  '  Which  man  ? ' 

" '  That  person  in  the  arena,  who  was  just  bowing  to  the 
Infanta.' 

"  '  Oh  that  man  ?  He  is  the  chief  matadore.  The  best 
bull-fighter  in  all  Spain.' 

" '  A  matadore,  a  bull  fighter  ! '  almost  shrieked  Mrs. 
Eaton,  turning  upon  her  daughter  and  snatching  a  moss 
rose  from  her  bosom  where  it  held  the  folds  of  her  muslin 
dress  together.  '  Fling  it  away,  child.  Pitch  it  after  him. 
The  humbug — the  impostor — the — the — ' 

"  Here  the  good  woman  broke  down  for  want  of  breath, 
and  rattled  her  fan  open  with  a  vicious  twist  of  the  hand, 
as  if  she  longed  to  box  some  one's  ears  with  it. 

"  I  saw  that  Lucy  was  troubled  and  that  her  lips  were 
quivering.  General  Harrington  had  turned  his  attention 
to  the  arena,  for  that  moment  the«|natadore  was  crossing 
towards  a  door  in  the  wall,  and  the  first  wild  bull  was 
expected  momentarily.  He  was  so  absorbed  that  he  did 
not  heed  Mrs.  Eaton's  angry  exclamations,  though  her  hus- 
band did. 

" '  What  is  the  matter,  mother.  Why,  you  will  smash 
that  fan  to  Senders  ;  it  cost — ' 

" '  No  matter  how  much  it  cost,'  said  Mrs.  Eaton  ;  '  L  don't 
think  these  Spaniards  care  about  that,  or  anything  else  but 
cheating  the  very  eyes  out  of  your  head.  The  impostors  ! ' 

"  '  Whj-,  who  has  been  cheating  us,  mother  ? ' 

"  '  Never  you  mind.     Oh  mercy  ! ' 

"  Lucy,  too,  gave  a  faint  scream  and  clung  to  me  like  a 
frightened  child.  No  wonder.  That  instant  a  door  in  the 
wall  swung  open,  and  a  black  bull  rushed  through. "  With  a 


262  Mabels   Mistake. 

bound  or  more  he  plunged  into  the  heart  of  the  arena, 
tossed  his  head  upwards,  and  stood  motionless  surveying  the 
great  concourse  of  people  with  his  flaming  eyes,  as  if  mak- 
ing up  his  mind  where  to  plunge  first. 

"  A  shout  followed  his  appearance,  for  he  was  a  beautiful 
savage  creature,  with  a  superb  chest  and  head,  black  and 
glossy  as  a  raven.  Ladies  clapped  their  hands  and  waved 
their  gossamer  handkerchiefs  in  wild  enthusiasm,  while  the 
general  shout  rolled  upward  like  thunder.  This  terrified 
the  creature  till  he  tore  up  the  earth  and  plunged  hither 
and  thither  in  his  madness,  bellowing  hoarsely  through  the 
tumult,  and  leveling  his  horns  at  the  crowd  as  if  he 
burned  to  toss  every  one  in  sight. 

"  Then  the  matadores  came  in,  closely  dressed,  glittering 
with  embroidery  and  a  profuse  display  of  buttons.  One 
carried  a  red  cloak  in  his  hand,  with  which  he  taunted  and 
exasperated  the  bull  into  hot  rage.  Then  the  contact  com- 
menced. The  Matadores,  slight,  agile  and  vigilant,  fell  to 
tormenting  the  noble  creature  into  new  wrath.  They  flung 
their  cloaks  over  his  eyes,  they  leaped  on  his  back  and 
away  again,  pricked  him  with  their  swords,  taunted  him 
from  a  distance,  and,  when  he  made  a  mad  plunge  upon 
them,  slipped  through  some  secret  door  in  the  wall  and 
laughed  at  his  grave  astonishment. 

"  Lucy  looked  on  all  this,  fascinated.  Tears  stood  in  her 
eyes,  but  an  eager  curiosity  shone  through  them. 

" '  There  must  be  some  mistake,'  I  heard  her  murmur. 
'  He  is  not  among  them.' 

"  She  was  undeceived.  The  bull  had  begun  to  exhaust  his 
rage,  his  tormentors  had  done  their  utmost,  and  the  people 
wanted  more  excitement.  He  came  in  then,  splendid  as  an 
Apollo,  tall,  lithe,  powerful.  Then  followed  the  lightning 
play  of  human  intelligence  and  trained  strength  against 
savage  impulse.  The  man  was  everywhere  at  the  same 
moment.-  His  sword  flashed  now  here,  now  there,  up  and 


Mabefs  Mistake.  263 

doivn  like  a  quiver  of  lightning.  He  wcrald  entice  the 
animal  close  to  him,  and  just  as  his  fierce  horns  were 
lowered,  leap  astride  his  neck,  and  land,  with  a  bound,  ten 
feet  away.  Now  he  darted  under  him,  now  made  a  flying 
leap  over  his  hack,  cheered  on,  and  accompanied  by  waving 
handkerchiefs,  eager  hands,  and  bursts  of  admiring 
applause. 

"  A  new  feature  was  added  to  the  scene.  Several  horses 
were  brought  in,  blindfolded  and  old,  ridden  by  inferior 
matadores.  One  of  these  poor  creatures  was  urged  up  to 
the  waiting  bull,  which  made  a  rush  at  his  chest  with  both 
horns,  tore  his  way  to  the  vitals,  and  let  the  heart  out, 
almost  heaving  the  beast  from  the  earth  as  those  murderous 
horns  rent  their  way  out  of  his  body. 

"  Oh  !  it  was  sickening ;  the  smell  of  the  hot  blood,  the 
overwhelming  bravos,  the  exultation  of  delicate  women  and 
innocent  children,  as  the  infuriated  bull  plunged  his  horns, 
reddened  to  the  frontlet,  again  and  again  into  that  writhing 
breast.  I  wish  I  had  never  seen  it.  In  fact  I  could  not 
see  clearly,  for  every  thing  grew  misty  from  the  sick  shud- 
dering that  fell  upon  me.  I  shivered  down  in  my  seat  and 
shut  my  eyes,  degraded  and  full  of  self  contempt,  that  any 
thing  should  have  brought  me  to  that  horrid  place. 

"  I  would  have  gone  home,  but  the  confusion  was  so 
great,  and  the  crowd  so  dense,  that  I  dared  not  propose  it, 
especially  as  General  Harrington  joined  heartily  in  the 
enthusiasm,  and  would,  I  feared,  resent  any  interruption. 

"  So  I  sat  there,  with  my  head  bowed  and  my  face  cov- 
ered, loathing  myself  and  everything  around  me.  A  shriek 
from  Lucy  Eaton  brought  me  out  of  this  state.  Starting 
up,  I  saw  the  man  she  had  called  a  duke,  tossed  high  in 
the  air,  whence  he  came  to  the  earth  with  a  crash.  This 
stunned  him  for  a  moment,  but  before  the  bull  could  follow 
up  its  advantage,  he  sprung  to  his  feet,  flung  his  scarlet 
cloak  over  the  creature's  eyes,  and  gave  the  signal  for  a  gen- 
eral attack. 


204:  Mabels  Mistake. 

"  Out  rushed  the  matadores  in  a  body,  armed  with  jave- 
lins and  darts,  feathered  at  the  ends  with  fringes  of  varie- 
gated paper,  and  sharp  as  steel  at  the  head.  These  were 
hurled  at  the  bull,  and  as  each  struck  through  his  jetty 
hide,  fire-crackers  concealed  in  the  paper  ornaments,  gave 
out  a  storm  of  noisy  fire ; — another  and  another  darted 
through  the  air,  thicker  and  sharper,  till  the  tortured  ani- 
mal bellowed  out  his  agony  in  pathetic  helplessness,  and  fell 
upon  his  knees  exhausted.  Then  the  matadore  drew 
toward  the  Infanta  and  seemed  waiting  for  some  signal. 
She  smiled,  lifted  her  hand,  closing  all  but  the  delicate 
thumb.  This  was  a  death  signal  for  the  poor  brute,  who 
seemed  to  know  that  his  fate  was  coming,  and  staggered  up 
from  his  knees  ready  to  fight  for  the  last  breath  of  his 
life. 

"  Then  commenced  a  fresh  onset  of  death.  The  bull 
fought  desperately,  staggering,  reeling,  plunging  and  mak- 
ing fierce  attacks  with  his  horns,  while  the  fire-crackers 
blazed  around  him,  and  a  hundred  javelins  quivered  in  his 
body.  The  matadore  became  cool  and  cautious  as  his  vic- 
tim grew  more  and  more  frantic.  He  played  with  the 
creature's  agony,  flitted  here  and  there  in  the  smoke  of  his 
torment,  pierced  his  sides  with  the  point  of  his  sword,  and 
flung  fresh  javelins  into  the  bleeding  wounds.  The  Infan- 
ta lifted  her  thumb  again.  The  Matadore  saw  it.  His 
sword  flashed  in  the  sunbeams  like  a  gleam  of  fire,  fell  on 
the  animal's  dripping  neck,  and  he  sank  to  the  earth,  dead. 

"  More  of  this  happened  that  day  ;  twelve  of  those  splen- 
did beasts  were  brought  forth  to  slaughter  and  be  slaughtered 
one  after  another.  Some,  braver  than  the  rest,  were  sent 
back  alive  ;  but  that  ornamented  sledge  dragged  off  twelve 
of  the  finest  creatures  I  ever  saw.  At  last,  even  the  Span- 
ish ladies  became  weary  of  this  terrible  work.  As  for  me, 
I  went  home  sickened,  and  so  nervous  I  could  not  rest." 


Mabel's   Mistake.  265 

CHAPTER  XLVII. 

MRS.  EATON'S  TRIBULATION. 

"  WHILE  I  was  lying  in  my  room,  shocked  by  the  day  I 
had  spent,  Mrs.  Eaton  came  in,  sun-burned,  excited,  and 
panting  for  breath.  'Wasn't  it  a  terrible  thing  !  Such  an 
imposition.  To  pass  himself  off  for  a  duke !  I  declare  I 
could  kill  him.' 

"  '  But  did  he  deceive  you  ?  '     I  asked. 

"  '  Did  he,  why  of  course,  the  scamp  !  And  poor  Lucy 
liking  him  so  much.  She  wont  believe  it  now,  hardly.  He 
looked  so  splendid  taking  up  that  key  and  swinging  his 
sword  about  like  a  Saracen,  Lucy  says,  just  to  tantalize  me, 
when  I  know  exactly  what  he  is.  But  I  come  to  ask  a  great 
favor,  Miss  Crawford.  You're  the  only  person  that  I  breathed 
a  word  to  about  it.  Supposing  you  just  keep  quiet,  now, 
especially  to  James  Harrington.  It  might  do  mischief 
there  if  you  said  a  word,  and  I'm  sure  you  would'nt  want  to 
do  that.  Only  think  of  a  daughter  of  mine  almost  falling 
in  love  with  one  of  them  matadore  fellows.  I  tell  you  it 
makes  my  blood  boil — but  you  wont  say  a  word.  Poor 
Lucy  would  die  of  shame  if  you  did.' 

'•' '  I  certainly  shall  not  mention  the  man  to  any  one,'  I 
answered. 

"  '  That's  a  good  soul.  I  was  sure  we  might  depend  on 
you.  Now  I'll  go  and  tell  Lucy.  She's  been  crying  like  a 
baby  ever  since  we  come  home.  I  wonder  if  the  fellow  will 
have  the  impudence  to  follow  us  again.  The  Duke  !  The 
impostor,  I  say, — to  look  like  a  nobleman  and  not  be  one.' 

"  How  fussy  and  disagreable  the  woman  is.  But  I  am  too 
weary  for  much  thought  of  her  or  any  thing  else  indeed, 
yet  I  cannot  sleep. 

"  Mrs.  Harrington  lay  on  the  low  couch  which  was  her 
favorite  resting  place  during  the  day,  and  I  sat  beside  her 


2'36  Mabets   Mistake. 

reading  aloud  a  new  English  novel  that  Miss  Eaton  had 
lent  me.  Presently  James  came  in,  and  making  me  a  sign 
not  to  stop,  sat  down  near  one  of  the  windows,  as  if  to  lis- 
ten to  the  story ;  but  when  I  glanced  at  him,  I  saw  by  his 
face  that  his  thoughts  were  leagues  away  from  any  con- 
sciousness of  the  words  my  voice  pronounced. 

"  I  suppose  I  had  no  right  to  wonder  whither  his  fancies 
had  strayed,  but  I  could  not  help  it ;  and  when  1  looked  at 
him  again,  I  knew  that  it  was  no  idle  reverie  which  had 
possession  of  him,  but  stern,  absorbing  thought,  for  his  face 
looked  hard  and  cold  as  it  so  often  had  done  of  late. 

"  I  almost  lost  the  consciousness  of  what  I  was  reading, 
in  the  rush  of  odd  fancies  that  came  over  my  mind.  My 
voice  must  have  grown  careless  and  indistinct,  for  I  heard 
Mrs.  Harrington  say  : — 

" '  Don't  read  any  more,  Mabel ;  I  am  sure  you  are 
tired.' 

"  I  felt  myself  start  and  color ;  I  colored  all  the  more 
from  annoyance  at  feeling  my  cheeks  begin  to  glow,  and  I 
could  hear  that  I  answered  constrainedly : 

" '  No  ;  I  am  not  tired.' 

" '  I  know  by  your  voice,  my  dear,'  Mrs.  Harrington  said 
with  her  iisual  thoughtful  ness  for  others.  '  It  was  selfish 
in  me,  I  should  not  have  allowed  you  to  read  so  long,  but  I 
was  so  interested  in  the  story  that  I  forgot.' 

"  I  closed  the  book ;  it  was  always  very  difficult  for  me 
to  read  aloud  with  any  listener  besides  herself,  but  she 
seemed  so  troubled  at  what  she  considered  her  selfishness, 
that  I  said  truthfully  enough  : 

'•' '  I  did  not  know  that  I  was  tired,  it  is  such  a  beautiful 
book  that  one  forgets  everything  in  the  interest  of  the 
story.' 

" '  Yes,  indeed,'  Mrs.  Harrington  said,  smelling  at  a 
little  bouquet  of  roses  she  held  in  her  hand,  'James/  she 
called  in  a  louder  voice,  '  have  you  read  it  ?  ' 


Mabets   Mistake.  267 

"  He  started  and  exclaimed  quickly — 

"  '  Did  you  speak,  mother  ?  I  beg  your  pardon,  I  did  not 
know  you  were  talking  to  me.' 

" '  I  only  asked  if  you  had  read  this  new  novel  of  Bul- 
wer's,  that  Mabel  and  I  are  so  delighted  with.' 

"  '  Not  yet,'  he  replied,  settling  back  in  his  chair. 

"  I  could  see  his  face  in  the  mirror ;  and  the  effort  he 
made  to  collect  his  thoughts  and  appear  to  listen  while  his 
mother  went  on  talking  about  the  book,  was  perfectly  plain 
to  me. 

" '  You  like  it,'  he  said,  absently. 

" '  My  dear  James,'  she  exclaimed,  laughing  in  her 
pleasant,  genial  way,  'where  are  your  thoughts  this 
morning  ?  I  don't  believe  you  have  heard  one  word  I  was 
saying.' 

"'Oh  yes,'  he  replied,  'you  were  saying  how  much 
you  and  Miss  Crawford  were  interested  in  the  book.' 

"  '  I  had  done  with  that,'  said  she,  shaking  her  bouquet 
at  him  playfully,  '  I  was  asking  you  the  name  of  his  last 
work.' 

" '  Whose  ?  Ah  !  Bulwer's — I  am  stupid  this  morning,  I 
must  acknowledge.' 

"  I  was  sorry  for  the  sort  of  embarrassment  he  displayed 
— something  unusual  with  him,  so  strong  and  self-cen- 
tered, and  I  mentioned  the  name  of  the  romance  that  had 
preceded  the  one  we  were  reading. 

" '  Of  course,'  said  Mrs.  Harrington,  '  Mabel's  memory 
never  fails !  Do  you  know,  James,  the  faculty  she  has  of 
retaining  names  and  dates  is  something  marvellous, 
especially  to  poor  me,  who  sometimes  can  scarcely  recollect 
my  own  age  and  rightful  appellation. 

"  '  One  has  the  opportunity  of  admiring  so  many  splen- 
did qualities  in  Miss  Crawford,'  he  answered,  in  the  dis- 
tant, ceremonious  wav  which  he  so  often  employed  toward 
me  of  late. 


268  Mabets   Mistake. 

"  I  felt  absolutely  hurt,  silly  and  childish  as  it  was  to  care 
for  so  slight  a  thing.  I  suppose  my  tell-tale  face  showed 
it,  for  Mrs.  Harrington  said,  teasingly — 

" '  Really,  James,  you  are  very  stately  and  magnificent, 
this  morning !  that  speech  sounded  grand  and  stilted 
enough  to  have  suited  Sir  Charles  Grandison.' 

"  He  laughed  a  little,  hut  it  sounded  so  forced  that  I 
wondered  Mrs.  Harrington  did  not  observe  it. 

" '  I  told  you  that  I  was  stupid,'  he  said,  '  so  you  need 
not  be  severe  on  my  poor  attempt  at  a  compliment.' 

"'I  assure  your  lordship  that  Mabel  does  not  care  for 
compliments,'  continued  his  mother.  '  Do  you,  my  pretty 
Queen  Mab  ? ' 

"  '  I  think  they  are  a  very  poor  substitute  for  real  kindness 
between  friends,'  I  said. 

"  I  could  hear  that  my  voice  sounded  somewhat  irritable, 
but  I  could  not  resist  speaking,  though  the  instant  after,  I 
could  have  bitten  my  tongue  off  for  showing  so  plainly  any 
annoyance  at  his  manner  and  words.  Mrs.  Harrington  did 
not  notice  my  little  ebullition — was  it  wounded  selfishness 
and  pride,  I  wonder  ?  She  took  my  remark  quite  as  a  mat- 
ter of  course. 

" '  You  are  perfectly  right,'  she  said.  '  Please  to  remem- 
ber that,  master  James.' 

"  I  saw  that  he  was  looking  earnestly  at  me — perhaps  he 
thought  that  he  had  hurt  me.  but  I  was  determined  to 
make  no  more  silly  self  betrayals.  I  forced  my  face  to  look 
indifferent,  and  sat  playing  carelessly  with  the  bronze  paper 
cutter  in  my  hand. 

"  '  I  am  sure  Miss  Crawford  knows  that  I  should  be  only 
too  proud  to  be  acknowledged  as  her  friend,  and  that  I 
value  her  intellect  too  highly  for  an  attempt  at  empty  com- 
pliments,' James  observed,  gravely. 

"'Ah,  viola  Vamende  honorable!'  laughed  Mrs.  Har- 
rington. '  Mabel  is  appeased,  and  I  ani  content  with 
your  explanation.' 


Mabets   Mistake.  269 

"  There  was  a  brief  silence  ;  I  could  feel  that  James  was 
still  looking  at  me,  and  did  not  raise  my  eyes.  Mrs.  Har- 
rington was  playing  with  her  flowers,  and  when  she  spoke 
again  had  forgotten  the  whole  matter  —  the  merest 
trifle  to  her,  indeed  to  anybody  possessed  of  a  grain  of 
common  sense,  but  of  so  much  importance  to  ridiculous, 
fanciful  me. 

"  '  This  is  so  perfect  a  day,'  she  said,  '  that  I  think  we 
must  go  out  to  drive.  Will  you  go  with  us,  James  ? ' 

"  '  I  fear  that  I  shall  be  unable,'  he  replied,  '  I  have 
several  letters  to  write,  and  the  American  mail  goes  out 
to-day.' 

"  '  Then  we  will  ask  Miss  Eaton,  Mabel,'  said  Mrs.  Har- 
rington, '  she  always  likes  to  go  with  us.' 

"  I  could  have  dispensed  with  this  young  lady's  society, 
but  of  course  I  did  not  say  so,  and  I  had  the  decency  to  be 
ashamed  of  my  unaccountable  feeling  toward  her.  She 
was  so  very  beautiful  that  to  anybody  less  captious  than  I 
had  grown,  even  nonsense  from  such  lips  as  hers  would 
have  been  more  graceful  and  acceptable  than  the  wisest 
remark  from  almost  any  other  woman. 

"'I  am  sorry  you  can't  go,  James,'  Mrs.  Harrington  was 
saying,  when  I  had  finished  my  little  mental  self-flagella- 
tion for  all  my  misdemeanors  and  evil  thoughts,  and  could 
listen  to  what  they  were  saying. 

"  '  Are  you  particularly  anxious  to  have  me  go  with  you, 
this  morning,  petite  mia?'  James  asked,  with  more  anima- 
tion than  he  had  before  displayed. 

" '  Indeed  I  am  !  I  feel  babyish  to-day,  and  want  to  be 
petted !  If  you  don't  go,  I  shall  think  you  are  beginning 
to  tire  of  this  poor  invalid  woman  who  is  so  great  a  trouble 
to  you  all.' 

" '  My  mother  could  never  think  that,'  he  said  hastily, 
rising,  and  moving  close  to  her  sofa,  where  he  stood  gently 
smoothing  her  beautiful  hair  with  his  hand. 


270  Makers   Mistake. 

" '  Besides,'  she  went  on,  '  these  women  are  just  no 
party  at  all.  Mabel's  head  is  full  of  the  hook,  and  between 
us,  poor  little  Miss  Eaton  will  have  a  wearisome  drive  of 
it.' 

" 1 1  shall  go  with  you,'  James  answered,  '  my  letters 
can  wait  till  the  next  mail.' 

"  *  We  have  conquered,  Mabel ! '  cried  Mrs.  Harrington, 
with  that  air  of  triumph  so  many  women  show  on  such 
occasions, — a  feeling  which,  I  confess,  has  always  been  a 
mystery  to  me.' 

"  But  just  now  Mrs.  Harrington  made  a  sad  mistake  when 
she  said  that  we  had  conquered — as  if  either  of  us  had  any- 
thing to  do  with  Mr.  James'  change  of  determination  !  The 
moment  she  had  announced  her  intention  of  inviting  our 
beautiful  neighbor,  lie  had  discovered  that  it  was  easy 
for  him  to  let  his  correspondence  lie  over.  Either  Mrs- 
Harrington  was  very  blind,  or  she  chose  to  ignore  a  fact 
that  was  as  palpable  as  if  he  had  given  utterance  to  it. 

"  I  felt  tired  and  moody,  and  half  inclined  to  make  that 
ordinary  feminine  fib,  a  headache,  a  plea  for  not  making  one 
of  the  party.  I  do  not  know  what  I  might  have  said ;  I 
dare  say  something  I  should  have  been  sorry  for,  because  I 
felt  strangely  perverse  and  irritable." 


CHAPTER  XLVIIL 
ZILLAH'S  LETTEB. 

"  ONE  morning,  while  we  were  arranging  a  drive  for  the 
afternoon,  General  Harrington  entered  the  room,  bringing 
a  letter  in  his  hand. 

"  '  How  do  you  find  yourself  this  morning,  fair  lady  !'  he 
asked,  approaching  his  wife  and  kissing  her  hand  with  his 
accustomed  gallantry. 


Mabets   Mistake.  271 

"  '  Quite  well/  she  answered,  lifting  her  eyes  to  his  with 
that  lovely  smile  of  greeting  she  always  had  for  him,  and 
which  made  her  face  so  beautiful. 

" f  That  is  the  most  delightful  news  that  could  greet  me,' 
he  replied,  with  one  of  his  courtly  hows.  '  How  is  my  par- 
agon of  wards  ?  '  he  continued,  turning  to  me. 

"  I  answered  him  pleasantly ;  he  was  so  elegant  and 
thorough-bred  that  one  was  insensibly  forced  to  restrain  even 
pettish  thoughts  in  his  presence.  But  I  was  abashed  all 
the  while,  for  I  noticed  that  as  the  General  came  up  to  the 
sofa,  James  immediately  retreated  and  resumed  his  seat  in 
the  window.  He  had  often  of  late  betrayed  those  little  signs 
of  desiring  to  avoid  the  General's  society,  and  they  puzzled 
me  very  much,  for  the  elder  man's  behavior  to  him  was 
always  friendly  and  courteous  in  the  extreme. 

"  '  I  need  not  ask  after  your  health,  James,'  the  General 
said,  good  naturedly,  'because  it  cannot  have  materially 
altered  since  I  made  the  inquiry  an  hour  ago.' 

"  '  What  is  that  letter  ?  '  asked  Mrs.  Harrington,  with 
the  curiosity  that  becomes  habitual  with  most  invalids,  and 
speaking  so  quickly,  that  James'  disregard  of  his  step- 
father's remark  was  not  noticeable. 

" '  It  is  for  you,  madam ;  I  could  not  resist  the  pleasure 
of  giving  it  to  you  myself,  for  I  know  how  much  you  like  to 
receive  letters.' 

" '  Thanks  !  You  manage  in  everything  to  give  me  a 
double  pleasure,'  she  said,  taking  the  letter  from  his  hand 
and  tearing  it  open. 

"  'From  Zillah,'  she  said,  glancing  down  the  page. 

"I  saw  James  start.  He  caught  me  looking  at  him, and 
quieted  himself  at  once  ;  but  I  noted  his  agitation  plainly. 

"  The  General  was  busy  wheeling  an  easy  chair  near  the 
sofa,  and  did  not  catch  his  wife's  remark. 

" '  From  whom  did  you  say  it  was,  my  dear  ? '  he  asked. 

"  '  From  Zijlab,'  slje  replied,  without  looking  up. 
17 


272  MabeTs   Mistake. 

" '  She,  indeed/  said  he  carelessly,  *  aud  what  does  the 
poor  and  rather  bad  tempered  Zillah  have  to  say  ?  '  * 

"  He  sat  down  by  his  wife's  side,  playing  with  the  flowers 
that  lay  on  her  cushions,  and  did  not  observe  the  quick, 
angry,  defiant  look  that  James  shot  at  him  as  he  spoke. 

"  '  Poor  girl,'  said  Mrs.  Harrington,  as  she  finished  read- 
ing the  hurried  scrawl,  '  she  is  pining  to  come  and  join  us  ; 
she  says  she  is  much  better,  but  so  lonely  and  homesick 
that  she  feels  it  will  be  impossible  for  her  to  get  well  until 
she  is  safe  with  us  again/ 

"The  General  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"'Your  spoiled  Zillah  is  seldom  contented/  he  said, 
pleasantly  enough. 

" '  Just  read  the  letter/  Mrs.  Harrington  said,  placing  it 
in  his  hands.  1 1  am  sure  you  will  be  sorry  for  her — she 
says  she  feels  like  a  poor  little  Italian  grey-hound  left  out 
in  the  cold.' 

"  The  General  read  the  letter  and  returned  it  to  his  wife, 
saying — 

"'I  suppose  she  is  lonely,  and  since  she  is  well  enough 
to  travel,  of  course  she  had  better  come  on  at  once — she  can 
be  of  service  to  you,  I  dare  say,  even  if  she  is  not  strong 
enough  to  resume  her  old  duties.' 

" '  I  really  want  to  see  her,  pretty  creature/  Mrs.  Har- 
rington said,  glancing  over  portions  of  the  letter  again. 

"  '  I  feel  quite  lost  without  her  caprices  and  bad  tem- 
per— besides,  she  always  knows  exactly  what  is  to  be 
done  for  me,  and  does  it  in  the  best  way.' 

" '  Only,  thanks  to  Miss  Mabel's  kindness,  you  have  not 
had  time  to  miss  her/  the  General  said. 

" '  Oh,  there  never  was  such  a  nurse  as  Mabel/  cried 
she,  '  but  then  I  can't  quite  make  a  servant  of  her,  willing 
as  she  is  to  sacrifice  herself  to  n?y  whims.' 

" '  I  scarcely  thought  you  regarded  the  girl  Zillah  quite 
as  a  servant/  said  James,  speaking  for  the  first  time.  There 


Mabel's  Mistake.  273 

was  something  so  bitter  in  his  voice,  that  I  wondered  they 
did  not  notice  it. 

"'Indeed  I  do  not/  Mrs.  Harrington  replied.  'She  is 
faithful  and  loving,  and  so  handsome  that  it  is  like  having 
some  exotic  flower  about  me.' 

"  '  Mrs.  Harrington  never  forgets  what  is  due  herself  or 
others,  James,  whether  they  may  be  dependent  or  friends,' 
the  General  said,  in  a  more  reproving  tone  than  I  ever 
before  heard  him  employ  towards  his  wife's  son. 

"  Again  James'  dark  eyes  flashed  upon  him  that 
strange  look  of  anger  and  defiance. 

" '  May  I  see  the  letter,  mother  ? '  he  asked,  quickly. 

"'Certainly,'  Mrs.  Harrington  said,  stretching  out  her 
hand  over  the  back  of  the  sofa. 

"  As  James  took  the  letter,  the  General  said — 

" '  Zillah  is  not  likely  to  have  any  important  secrets  to 
write  to  your  mother.' 

"  I  might — perhaps  it  was  fancy,  caused  by  the  suspicion 
that  was  in  my  own  mind — but  I  thought  he  slightly  em- 
phasized the  words  '  your  mother.'  No,  I  am  sure  it  was 
not  fancy,  for  James'  lips  shut  together  in  the  compressed 
way  they  did  when  he  was  angry,  and  a  frown  gathered  on 
his  forehead — he  had  caught  the  peculiar  tone  as  I  did." 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

THE   GENERAL   PROPOSES   A   TKIP   TO    CADIZ. 

"  WHILE  James  was  reading  the  letter,  the  General  said 
to  his  wife — 

"  '  I  find  that  I  shall  be  obliged  to  go  back  to  Cadiz,  so  I 
will  bring  Zillah  home.' 

"James  crumpled  the  letter  in  his  hand,  and  called  out 


274  Mabets  Mistake. 

in  so  loud  and  agitated  a  voice  that  Mrs.  Harrington  abso- 
lutely started — 

"  '  I  will  go  back  for  Zillah,  mother.' 

"  The  General  turned  a  little  in  his  chair,  glanced  at  me, 
then  regarded  James — his  eyebrows  slightly  raised  with 
an  expression  of  surprise. 

" '  Upon  my  word/  said  he,  pleasantly  as  ever,  '  I 
scarcely  see  the  necessity  for  your  playing  preux  chevalier 
in  this  case,  James.' 

"  '  Not  the  slightest,'  said  Mrs.  Harrington.  '  But  James 
is  always  thoughtful  for  others.' 

" '  Always,'  the  General  said. 

" '  I  have  nothing  to  detain  me  here — I  have  seen  Seville 
thoroughly,  and  shall  be  glad  to  make  this  journey,'  James 
said,  without  paying  attention  to  what  had  passed. 

"  I  felt  my  cheeks  tingling  with  impatience  and  indigna- 
tion. What  did  this  eagerness  and  solicitude  mean  ? 
Did  he  forget  how  unbecoming  it  was — did  he  not  remem- 
ber how  this  strange,  passionate,  ill-regulated  creature,  in 
spite  of  her  beauty,  her  marvelous  eyes,  and  her  bewitching 
toice,  belonged  to  a  race  separated  from  us  by  all  natural 
laws!  Did  he  forget  that  she  was  a  menial — a  slave ? 

"  The  General  was  smiling  still,  and  smoothing  a  long  curl 
of  his  wife's  hair  that  had  broken  loose  from  the  comb  and 
fell  over  the  cushion  in  a  shining  wave. 

" '  James  is  so  full  of  his  scheme  of  becoming  a  modern 
Don  Quixote,  that  he  did  not  even  hear  me  say  that  I  would 
bring  Zillah  on  here,'  he  said. 

" '  It  strikes  me  that  you  are  inclined  to  do  Don  Quixote 
yourself,  sir,'  exclaimed  James,  and  his  voice  was  sharp  and 
harsh. 

" '  Excuse  me — you  misunderstand,'  replied  the  General, 
in  a  rather  drawling,  sarcastic  tone  ;  'if  I  were  inclined  to 
emulate  Cervantes,  here  I  think  my  taste  is  sufficiently 
patrician  for  me  to  display  it  in  some  other  quarter  than 
toward  my  wife's  domestic.' 


Mabel's  Mistake.  275 

"  The  tone  was  somewhat  sneering,  and  the  speech  was  a 
little  affected  and  fatuous,  but  I  knew  he  said  it  as  a  re- 
proof to  James,  and  he  deserved  it  well. 

" '  I  am  sure  the  courier  seems  the  proper  person  to  send 
back/  Mrs.  Harrington  said,  a  little  disturbed  by  this 
unusual  tone  between  her  husband  and  son.  '  Why 
should'nt  he  go,  General  ? ' 

"'You  are  right,  my  treasure,  as  you  always  are,'  he 
replied.  '  But  as  I  began  to  tell  you,  I  am  obliged  to  return 
to  Cadiz  myself.' 

"  '  If  you  have  business  there  I  can  transact  it  for  you/ 
persisted  James. 

"  '  Thanks  !  I  have  the  utmost  confidence  in  your  judg- 
ment, but  this  is  a  matter  that  I  feel  inclined  to  take  in  my 
own  hands.' 

" '  Business  in  Cadiz ! '  muttered  James,  ironically. 

"  His  mother  did  not  catch  the  words,  but  the  General 
and  I  did.  The  General  only  smiled — he  looked  a  little 
contemptuous  now. 

" '  Why  do  you  have  to  go  back,  dear  ? '  his  wife  asked. 

"  '  Simply  because  I  got  a  letter  this  morning  from  that 
stupid  banker,  Henriquez.  He  has  made  a  muddle  of  buy- 
ing those  three  pictures  we  wanted,  and  that  Englishman 
who  was  so  crazy  about  them  will  get  the  lot  after  all,  unless 
I  go  on  myself.' 

" '  Oh,  I  would'nt  lose  that  Cano  for  the  world/  cried 
Mrs.  Harrington  ;  '  I  have  set  my  heart  on  having  it  in  my 
bed  room  at  home.' 

"  '  Precisely  the  reason  I  made  up  my  mind  to  go,  dear 
lady/  said  the  General,  lifting  her  pretty  hand  to  his  lips 
with  exquisite  gallantry.  (  I  am  a  foolish  man,  and  I  cannot 
bear  to  have  you  disappointed  in  anything — be  it  of  impor- 
tance or  the  veriest  trifle.' 

"  '  Oh,  how  good  you  are/  said  Mrs.  Harrington, with  the 
grateful  tears  swimming  in  her  eyes.  'Far — far,  far  too 
good  to  me.' 


276  MabeVs  Mistake. 

" '  I  could  not  equal  your  deserts,  my  best  one/  he  an- 
swered. '  Besides,  those  three  pictures  are  very  valuable — 
worth  double  what  I  can  get  them  for,  and  as  a  man  who 
likes  to  further  the  cause  of  art  in  our  new  country,  I  should 
not  feel  justified  in  neglecting  this  opportunity.  Am  I  not 
right  ? ' 

"  '  Perfectly,'  she  said. 

" '  Miss  Crawford  thinks  so  too,  I  hope ! '  he  asked 
politely. 

"  I  bowed — I  was  too  much  shaken  by  a  world  of  strange, 
inexplicable  emotions,  to  trust  my  voice  just  then. 

"  *  I  can  attend  to  that  business  easily  enough,'  James 
added  ;  '  and  you  profess  to  hate  travelling.' 

" '  I  shall  be  upheld  by  a  consciousness  that  I  am  per- 
forming my  duty,'  replied  the  General,  laughing.  '  No, 
James,  I  am  convinced  that  unless  I  go  myself,  we  shall 
lose  those  pictures.  I  really  have,  what  superstitious  peo- 
ple call  a  premonition,  in  regard  to  the  matter.' 

" '  It  is  useless  to  prolong  the  discussion,'  exclaimed 
James,  angrily,  rising  from  his  chair. 

" '  Oh  quite,'  replied  the  General,  '  I  am  an  indolent 
man,  but  a  perfect  Spartan  in  the  cause  of  duty — pray 
give  me  some  credit,  ladies.' 

"  *  I  can  only  think  how  I  shall  miss  you,'  exclaimed  his 
wife. 

"  '  My  dear  friend,  we  shall  both  have  one  pleasant  antici- 
pation amid  the  pain  of  separation — that  of  meeting  soon 
again.' 

"  James  was  walking  up  and  down  the  room,  moody  and 
preoccupied. 

"  '  When  shall  you  go  ? '  Mrs.  Harrington  asked. 

"  '  This  very  day — I  must  lose  no  time.' 

"  '  And  when  will  you  be  back  ? ' 

" '  Within  the  week ;  I  shall  make  all  haste,  you  may  be 
eure.' 


Mabels   Mistake.  277 

" '  But  you  will  stay  in  Cadiz  long  enough  to  rest,'  she 
said  anxiously ;  '  you  must  not  make  yourself  ill.' 

" '  Always  thoughtful — always  kind ! '  he  half  whispered. 
Then  he  added  alond — '  I  shall  send  for  Zillah  to  join  me 
there,  and  will  hring  her  on  ;  so  you  see  everything  arranges 
itself  admirably.' 

"  James  paused  suddenly  in  his  impatient  march  up  and 
down  the  room,  and  said  more  quietly  than  he  had  spoken 
during  the  whole  conversation — '  I  will  go  with  you,  Gen- 
eral— I  shall  be  glad  of  a  little  change.' 

"'My  dear  friend,  few  things  could  be  pleasanter  to  me 
than  to  have  your  society,  but  you  forget  that  it  is  quite  out 
of  the  question  here;  you  would  leave  your  mother  and 
Miss  Crawford  alone.' 

"  I  could  not  keep  silence  a  moment  longer — if  I  had  died 
for  it,  I  must  have  spoken. 

" '  We  have  plenty  of  friends,'  I  said ;  we  should  do  very 
well.  Mr.  Harrington  could  have  a  pleasant  trip,  and 
leave  us  quite  satisfied  that  Zillah  would  not  be  carried  off 
by  bandits  on  the  road.' 

"  I  did  not  look  at  James  as  I  spoke.  I  felt  that  I  neither 
colored  or  showed  any  emotion — it  seemed  as  if  I  was  only 
surprised  and  slightly  disgusted  at  so  much  discussion  con- 
cerning a  servant. 

" '  Oh,  you  must  not  go,  James/  his  mother  said.  1 1 
should  die  of  fright  in  twenty-four  hours.' 

" '  I  see  that  it  would  be  out  of  the  question,'  returned 
he,  in  a  voice  that  wavered  between  vexation  and  trouble. 

"  The  General  cast  another  quick  glance  toward  me — that 
strange  fleeting  look  which  I  had  detected  several  times 
before,  and  which  proved  to  me  that  the  suspicions  in  my 
own  mind,  to  which  I  could  scarcely  have  given  a  name, 
in  fact  but  vaguely  understood,  had  a  place  in  his. 

"  James  turned  to  leave  the  room  ;  the  General  had  risen 
and  was  standing  at  a  little  distance  from  me,  bending  over 


2T8  Mabets  Mistake. 

a  vase  of  flowers  and  inhaling  their  perfume  with  that  love 
of  all  beautiful  things  which  was  one  of  his  most  prominent 
characteristics. 

"  In  leaving  the  room,  Mr.  Harrington  had  to  pass  near 
him,  and  I  distinctly  heard  the  General  say — 'You  sur- 
prise me  !  Imprudent,  most  imprudent.' 

"  James  passed  on  as  if  he  had  not  heard  the  words,  hut 
I  saw  his  face,  and  I  knew  by  the  pale  wrath  that  locked 
his  features  and  glittered  in  his  eyes,  that  not  a  syllable  of 
that  quiet  remonstrance  upon  the  glaring  impropriety  of 
his  behavior,  had  escaped  him. 

"The  General  had  evidently  forgotten  that  I  sat  near 
enough  to  have  overheard  his  remark,  but  as  he  turned  and 
looked  at  me,  I  suppose  he  saw  by  the  expression  of  my 
countenance  that  I  had  done  so.  He  seemed  troubled.  I 
knew  that  he  divined  the  vague  suspicions  that  disturbed 
me,  and  was  annoyed  to  think  that  any  words  of  his  should 
so  clearly  have  shown  me  that  he  shared  my  ideas  in  regard 
to  James'  singular  conduct. 

"  I  left  Mrs.  Harrington  and  the  General  together,  for  I 
knew  that  she  would  wish  to  be  alone  with  him  to  receive 
his  farewell ;  for  it  was  so  seldom  that  he  left  her,  and  her 
nerves  were  so  fragile  and  excitable  from  long  illness,  that 
this  brief  separation  and  journey  were  matters  of  painful 
import  to  her. 

"  But  whatever  the  General's  decision  in  any  case  might 
be,  it  was  seen  to  be  right  in  her  eyes  ;  and  it  was  not  won- 
derful that  she  trusted  him  so  implicitly,  for  his  manner  to 
her  was  always  perfect,  his  care  and  attention  to  her  unva- 
rying ;  besides  all,  his  judgment  was  seldom  at  fault. 

"  I  went  away  to  my  room ;  as  I  passed  through  the  cor- 
ridor,! heard  Lucy  Eaton's  voice  on  the  landing  above,  and 
I  hurried  on,  for  I  was  in  no  mood  to  listen  patiently  to  her 
girlish  chatter. 

"I  was  alone  for  a  long  hour,  and  it  was  a  sad,  dark 


Mabel's  Mistake.  279 

watch  that  I  kept  there  by  myself  in  that  gloomy  chamber. 
The  very  fact  that  so  many  varying  suspicions  disturbed 
me,  that  they  were  all  so  vague  and  shifting,  made  my 
reflections  full  of  unrest.  But  I  could  settle  upon  noth- 
ing— could  form  no  conclusion. 

"  Only  the  other  day  I  had  believed  that  he  loved  Lucy 
Eaton — at  least  that  he  was  captivated  by  her  golden  curls, 
blue  eyes,  and  her  pretty  childish  ways ;  the  weak  fascina- 
tions that  seem  to  possess  such  strange  power  for  the 
strongest  men." 


CHAPTER  L. 

MISS   EATON   MAKES   MISS    CRAWFORD   A  VISIT. 

"  THE  next  morning  there  came  a  knock  at  the  door ;  it 
was  my  maid.  She  came  to  inform  me  that  the  General 
was  ready  to  start,  and  desired  to  bid  me  good-bye. 

"  I  went  down  stairs  and  met  him  coming  out  of  his 
wife's  room. 

"'Pray  go  and  comfort  her,'  he  said  in  a  trenmlous 
voice  ;  '  I  would  not  have  undertaken  this  journey  if  I  had 
thought  that  she  would  have  felt  it  so  much,  though  she 
insists  on  my  going ;  she  is  very  cheerful  now,  but  I  am 
afraid  she  will  break  down  when  I  am  gone.' 

" '  I  will  do  all  that  I  can  to  comfort  her,'  I  said. 

"  '  I  am  sure  of  that !  I  could  not  leave  her  if  you  were 
not  here.  James  is  fond  of,  his  mother — but — well,  young 
men  will  be  young  men.' 

"  I  did  not  attempt  to  return  his  smile — I  was  too  indig- 
nant with  young  Mr.  Harrington  to  aid  in  glossing  over 
his  conduct. 

"  '  Believe  me,  my  dear  ward,'  said  the  General  suddenly, 


280  Mabels  Mistake. 

( only  a  grave  reason  has  made  me  start  on  this  journey. 
Good  bye — God  bless  you.  Let  me  find  you  well  and  happy 
when  I  return.' 

"  He  touched  my  forehead  gently  with  his  lips,  and  was 
gone. 

"  I  was  about  to  knock  at  Mrs.  Harrington's  door,  when 
I  saw  James  coming  down  the  corridor,  evidently  going 
there,  too.  I  turned  away  and  went  into  the  salon.  I  did 
not  wish  even  to  exchange  a  word  with  him  then. 

"It  might  have  been  half  an  hour  after,  when  Lucy 
Eaton  tapped  at  the  door  and  opened  it  before  I  could 
speak. 

" '  I  knew  you  were  here  alone,'  she  said,  '  may  I  come 
in?' 

"  How  pretty  she  looked,  standing  there  in  her  dress  of 
thin  blue  muslin,  her  golden  hair  falling  about  that  lovely 
face  which,  probably,  had  never  in  her  whole  life  been  dis- 
turbed by  a  single  thought  or  fancy  that  could  cause  pain 
to  another. 

"  *  So  the  General  has  gone  to  Cadiz,'  she  said,  as  she 
came  into  the  room  and  flung  herself  in  a  graceful  attitude 
on  the  sofa  near  me.  *  How  lost  dear  Mrs.  Harrington  will 
be  ; — we  must  all  try  to  console  her.' 

"  I  was  so  unreasonable  and  bad  tempered  that  I  fear  my 
first  impulse  was  to  ask  her  what  possible  right  she  could 
have  to  offer  the  lady  consolation ;  but  I  managed  to  keep 
back  that  little  ebullition  of  temper,  and  answered,  in- 
stead— 

" '  He  will  only  be  gone  a  few  days ;  Mrs.  Harrington 
will  not  have  a  great  deal  of  time  to  be  lonely.' 

" '  And  then  she  has  you  with  her,  and  I  can't  fancy 
anybody  feeling  solitary, .  dear  Miss  Crawford,  while  they 
can  have  your  society.' 

"  *  Dear  Miss  Crawford/  was  in  no  mood  to  accept  com- 
pliments patiently — they  would  have  had  a  false  ring  to  my 


MabeVs   Mistake.  281 

ear  at  that  moment,  coming  even  from  those  whom  I  knew 
well  and  loved,  so  they  were  not  likely  to  be  accepted  with 
good  grace,  from  this  comparative  stranger.  I  suppose  she 
would  have  thought  me  unkind  for  considering  her  so,  but  I 
never  found  it  easy  to  get  up  the  girlish  enthusiasm  neces- 
sary for  cementing  sudden  and  violent  friendship. 

" '  That  is  a  very  pretty  speech,'  I  said  bluntly,  '  but  it 
doesn't  mean  anything  at  all.' 

"  Lucy  dropped  her  tiny  hands  and  went  off  into  a  peal 
of  laughter  that,  I  must  confess,  was  sweet  as  a  chime  of 
silver  bells. 

" '  You  do  say  the  oddest  things  ! '  she  exclaimed.  (  I 
never  knew  any  one  so  original  as  you  are,  but  dear  Miss 
Crawford,  though  I  like  it  exceedingly  myself,  do  you 
think—' 

"  She  hesitated,  and  as  I  saw  she  never  would  finish  her 
sentence  unless  I  asked  the  desired  question,  I  inquired — 

"  <  Do  I  think  what,  Miss  Eaton  ?  ' 

" '  That — that  gentlemen  quite  like  it.  Young  girls  have 
to  be  so  particular,  you  know,  or  they  displease  them.' 

"  '  Really,'  I  said,  '  I  have  never  taken  the  trouble  to 
think  about  the  matter ;  and  to  tell  you  the  truth,  I  fear  I 
should  not  much  care,  even  if  I  had.' 

" '  Ah,  to  be  sure,  you  are  differently  situated  from  so 
many  girls — with  your  beauty  and  your  great  fortune,  what- 
ever you  say  or  do  will  always  be  thought  charming  — 
Oh,  dear  Miss  Crawford,  I  did  not  mean  that  —  indeed 
I  did  not !  Now  you  are  vexed  with  me,  I  am  sure.' 

" '  I  am  not  quite  bad  tempered  enough  to  take  offence 
where  none  is  meant,  Miss  Eaton.' 

" '  Bad  tempered  ?  Why,  I  think  you  have  the  sweetest 
disposition  I  ever  knew !  Mamma  was  saying  only  this 
morning,  that  you  had  a  face  like  an  angel.' 

"  I  doubted  that,  for  I  was  confident  Mrs.  Eaton  had  no 
great  prepossession  in  my  favor,  but  of  course  I  let  it  pass. 


282  Mabets   Mistake. 

" 1 1  am  so  heedless,'  moaned  Lucy ;  '  I  say  everything 
that  comes  in  my  head — mamma  says  she  wishes  I  could 
acquire  a  little  of  your  dignity — but  I  never  shall  be  like 
you — never.' 

"The  glance  of  self  satisfaction  which  she  cast  in  the 
mirror  where  her  pretty  figure  was  reflected  gracefully 
curled  up  among  the  sofa  cushions,  was  extremely  amusing 
to  me. 

"  '  I  think,'  I  said,  '  that  you  may  congratulate  yourself 
on  there  being  no  resemblance  between  us.' 

" '  Oh,  that  was  not  what  I  meant,'  she  replied.  '  You 
are  very  beautiful,  and  I  am  sure  nobody  would  ever  say 
that  of  poor  little  me.' 

"  I  thought  I  had  now  talked  all  the  nonsense  that  the 
most  exaggerated  idea  of  courtesy  could  require,  so  I  said — 

"  '  You  must  not  think  me  unkind,  but — ' 

"  '  Unkind  ?  '  she  repeated.  '  I  never  knew  you  to  have 
an  unkind  thought.  Whatever  you  do  or  say  would  alwaj's 
be  considered  charming.' 

" '  More  pretty  speeches,'  said  I,  trying  to  laugh,  for  I 
had  the  grace  to  feel  a  little  ashamed  of  my  ill  humor. 
'You  quite  overwhelm  me  with  them  to-day — let  me  try 
my  skill.  Do  you  know  that  your  dress  is  particularly  be- 
coming, and  that  you  are  looking  your  very  loveliest  to 
day?' 

" '  Oh,  my  !  no,'  returned  she,  glancing  at  herself  in  the 
opposite  mirror.  '  I  don't  think  the  dress  pretty  at  all — it's 
mamma's  taste — and  I  am  sure  I  am  looking  horribly.  I 
told  mamma  I  would  not  come  in,  only  I  was  certain  there 
was  nobody  here  beside  you.' 

" '  I  have  not  seen  Mrs.  Harrington  since  the  General 
left,'  I  said,  by  way  of  trying  to  bear  my  part  in  the  con- 
versation more  than  from  any  other  reason  ;  '  but  her  son  is 
with  her.' 

ft '  Mr.    Harrington    is    so     devoted     to     his     mother,' 


Mabel's   Mistake.  283 

exclaimed  Lucy.  c  Mamma  says  that  he  is  a  model,  and 
that  so  good  a  son  could  not  fail  to  make — ' 

"  She  broke  off  with  a  little  attempt  at  embarrassment, 
that  was  rather  a  failure. 

" '  Would  make  a  good  husband,  you  mean,  I  suppose/ 
returned  I.  '  That  is  the  old  proverb,  I  believe.' 

"  •'  Yes — but  I  hesitated — I'm  so  foolish.  It  always  seems 
immodest  to  name  such  things  outright.' 

"'  I  am  sorry  that  I  am  immodest,'  said  I,  'but  straight- 
forward words  are  natural  to  me,  and  I  utter  them  abruptly 
sometimes.' 

" '  I  suppose  I  really  ought  to  go  and  see  if  I  can  do  any- 
thing for  Mrs.  Harrington.  She  is  probably  alone  by  this 
time.' 

"At  that  moment  the  door  opened,  and  James  looked  into 
the  room.  He  did  not  see  Lucy  Eaton  where  he  stood,  and 
said  coldly  enough — 

" '  Miss  Crawford,  if  you  have  leisure,  my  mother  would 
like  to  see  you.' 

"  '  Certainly,'  I  said,  rising. 

" '  And  I  must  go  back,'  cried  Lucy,  springing  up  in  a 
nutter.  '  Mamma  will  positively  think  I  am  lost.' 

" '  Good  morning,  Miss  Eaton,'  James  said ;  '  pray  excuse 
me.  I  supposed  Miss  Crawford  was  alone.  I  beg  pardon  of 
both  for  having  interrupted  you.' 

" '  Oh,  there  was  no  interruption,'  said  Lucy,  moving 
toward  him  with  her  thin  dress  sweeping  out  like  a  cloud. 
'  We  were  through  talking,  and  what  do  you  suppose  it  was 
all  about?'  she  added  coquettishly. 

" '  I  really  have  no  idea,'  he  answered,  with  a  degree  of 
indifference  that  I  wondered  she  did  not  notice. 

"  '  I  am  sure  I  shall  not  tell  you,'  she  said,  tossing  her 
curls.  '  We'll  not  tell,  will  we,  Miss  Crawford  ? '  I  was 
busy  putting  away  some  books  that  had  been  lying  on  a 
chair,  and  so  had  an  excuse  for  being  conveniently  deaf. 


284  Mabets  Mistake. 

" '  Since  you  are  so  determined,  it  would  be  useless  for  me 
to  attempt  to  persuade  you/  James  replied,  and  I  knew  that 
he  was  trying  to  be  polite  in  order  to  hide  how  it  bored  him 
to  stand  there  and  talk  nonsense. 

"  I  think  that  a  few  days  before  it  would  have  pleased  me 
to  have  this  proof  that  Mr.  Harrington  did  not  care  so  much 
for  pretty  Lucy  Eaton,  but  it  brought  me  no  satisfaction 
now.  Straightway,  as  if  something  had  whispered  it  in  my 
ear,  came  the  reason  for  his  indifference.  His  mind  was  so 
completely  engrossed  by  thoughts  of  our  conversation  about 
the  girl  Zillah,  that  there  was  no  room  for  other  ideas  to  find 
a  place. 

"The  bare  idea  turned  me  faint  with  indignation  and  dis- 
quiet. The  worst  thing  of  all — the  hardest  to  bear — was 
to  lose  my  respect  for  him ;  and  he  was  forcing  me  rapidly 
to  do  that. 

'/  If  he  had  loved  Lucy  Eaton,  it  would  have  been  an 
honorable  affection,  such  as  every  man  has  a  right  to  choose 
for  himself;  but  in  this  entanglement,  which  I  was  more  and 
more  convinced  fettered  his  feelings  and  movements,  there 
could  be  nothing  but  secresy  and  dishonor. 

"  I  wanted  to  go  away — to  get  beyond  the  sight  of  his  face 
— the  sound  of  his  voice.  As  I  stood  there  listening  to 
their  idle  conversation,  I  felt  that  I  almost  hated  the  man. 
With  his  wicked  secret  on  his  soul  what  right  had  he  to 
bring  himself  into  the  presence  of  innocent  women,  and 
assume  a  position  of  equality  with  them.  I  knew  how 
foolish  it  all  was — I  tried  to  think  that  the  meanness  was  in 
my  entertaining  such  suspicions,  but  I  could  no  more  change 
my  feelings  than  I  could  banish  my  doubts. 

"  I  walked  to  the  door ;  as  James  stepped  aside  to  allow  us 
to  pass,  I  caught  one  strange,  troubled  look  from  his  eyes, 
which  I  could  not  understand.  Did  it  mean  that  he  believed 
I  had  divined  his  secret,  and  was  appealing  to  my  generosity 
for  silence  ? 


Mabel's  Mistake.  285 

"  There  was  no  time  to  think  about  it.  Lucy  was  holding 
me  by  the  sleeve  and  saying — 

"  '  I  don't  believe  you  have  heard  a  syllable  Mr.  Harring- 
ton has  said.  His  mother  wants  us  to  go  out  driving  with 
her  toward  sunset.' 

"  '  So  Mrs.  Harrington  told  me  this  morning.' 

"  *  But  you  did  not  mention  it.' 

"  '  No,  because  she  spoke  before  she  knew  of  her  husband's 
journey,  and  I  thought  she  might  not  feel  inclined  to  go 
out.' 

" '  I  am  sure  I  shall  be  delighted,'  Lucy  said.  '  Do  you 
mean  to  take  the  other  seat,  Mr.  Harrington  ? ' 

"  ( If  you  permit.' 

" '  Oh,  my !  I'm  sure  it's  not  for  me  to  say !  But  I  know 
your  mother  never  half  enjoys  herself  unless  you  are  present, 
and  really,  one  feels  so  much  safer  driving  when  there's  a 
gentleman  along.  One  never  knows  what  these  dreadful 
Spanish  coachmen  may  do.' 

"  '  I  believe  ours  is  very  trusty,'  James  replied.  ( Please 
don't  hint  your  fears  to  my  mother,  or  she  would  not  drive 
again  while  she  is  here.' 

"  '  Oh,  of  course  not !  Any  way,  I  did  not  mean  anything 
— I  always  speak  without  thought !  Mamma  says  my  head 
is  no  better  than  a  feather.  Isn't  that  cruel  of  her,  Mr. 
Harrington  ? ' 

" '  You  can  console  yourself  by  being  certain  that  she 
does  not  mean  it.' 

" (  Oh,  I  don't  know  !  Mamma  has  a  great  admiration  for 
dignified,  stately  creatures,  like  our  dear  Miss  Crawford. 
She  says  I  will  be  nothing  but  a  spoiled  little  kitten  all  my 
days.' 

"  James  looked  so  impatient  of  all  this  nonsense,  that  I 
was  amused  in  spite  of  myself.  I  went  away  to  his  mother's 
room,  and  left  him  to  free  himself  from  Miss  Eaton  the  best 
way  he  could." 


286  Mabel's   Mistake. 


CHAPTER  LI. 

CONTINUED    MISUNDERSTANDING. 

"  MRS.  HARRINGTON  was  lying  on  her  sofa  when  I 
entered.  She  looked  up  and  smiled  cheerfully,  but  I  could 
see  that  she  had  been  crying. 

" '  I  sent  for  you,  dear,  because  James  wanted  to  go  out 
for  a  while,'  she  said.  '  Some  way  I  don't  just  like  being 
left  alone — you  don't  mind  sitting  with  me  ? ' 

"  '  You  know  I  like  it,  Mrs.  Harrington.' 

" '  You're  a  dear,  good  girl,  Mabel !  I  never  can  be 
grateful  enough  to  you  for  all  your  kindness  and  patience 
with  me.' 

"  I  kissed  her  forehead  but  did  not  answer. 

" '  Toward  evening  we'll  go  out  to  drive,'  she  said,  '  and 
take  that  little  Lucy  with  us.' 

" '  Yes ;  Mr.  Harrington  gave  her  your  invitation. 
Shall  I  go  on  with  our  book  now  ? ' 

" '  Oh  yes,  do  ;  I  am  wonderfully  interested  in  it.' 

"  I  had  left  the  novel  in  the  salon,  and  went  back  to  get 
it.  As  I  opened  the  door,  James  was  pacing  up  and  down 
the  room,  and  the  face  he  turned  toward  me  was  pale  and 
troubled. 

" '  I  came  for  my  book,'  I  said,  and  began  searching  for 
it  among  the  volumes  on  the  table. 

'«  '  Can  I  help  you  ? ' 

"  *  Thanks — no — here  it  is.' 

"  How  different  it  all  was  from  the  days — so  far  off  and 
faded  they  seemed  now — when  we  had  conversed  like  friends, 
with  neither  restraints  or  concealment  between  us  ! 

"  Now  he  was  reserved — distant,  and  I  could  feel  that  my 
manner  was  absolutely  cold  and  haughty.  I  had  reached 
the  door  when  he  came  hurriedly  toward  me,  saying — 


Mabel's   Mistake.  287 

" '  Miss  Crawford ! ' 

"  I  stopped. 

" '  What  is  it,  Mr.  Harrington  ? ' 

"  I  knew  my  voice  sounded  icy — he  looked  at  me,  and 
the  odd,  troubled  look  came  over  his  face  again. 

" ( I  only  wished  to  ask  if  you  were  going  to  my  mother,' 
he  said  in  a  hesitating,  embarrassed  way,  very  unusual  with 
him. 

"  It  was  not  true  ;  he  had  meant  to  speak  of  something 
entirely  different.  I  have  wondered  since  if  my  frigid 
manner  and  lack  of  sympathy  prevented  him.  Yet  what 
could  he  have  said — there  was  no  possibility  of  his  bringing 
even  the  slightest  allusion  to  his  trouble  before  me. 

"  '  Certainly  I  am,'  I  said. 

" '  I  have  to  go  out/  he  continued ;  '  I  will  be  back  by 
the  time  you  wish  to  drive.' 

" '  Very  well ;  but  I  assure  you  as  far  as  I  am  concerned, 
I  have  no  fear  that  the  coachman  cannot  manage  the  horses 
without  difficulty.' 

"  He  colored  slightly — offended,  I  suppose,  by  my  tone 
and  my  indifference. 

"'My  mother  desired  me  to  accompany  her,'  he  said, 
coldly,  'so  I  shall  be  obliged  to  force  myself  upon  your 
society.' 

"  l  Are  you  not  too  modest  in  your  estimate  of  yourself  ? ' 
I  asked  with  a  laugh,  that  even  to  my  own  ears,  sounded  so 
harsh  and  mocking,  that  I  scarcely  recognized  it  as  my 
own. 

"  He  gave  me  another  of  those  quick,  strange  glances. 
It  was  too  late  to  attempt  to  soften  my  judgments  or 
opinions  now,  by  looks  or  words.  While  hating  myself  for 
the  thoughts  that  tormented  me,  I  could  neither  return  to 
my  old  faith  or  believe  in  the  evil  that  disturbed  it. 

" '  I  fear  I  hardly  appreciate  satire,'  he  said,  gravely. 

"  '  No  ! '  returned  I,  laughingly.     '  You  must  cultivate  a 
taste  for  it — read  the  old  English  humorists.' 
18 


288  MabeFs  Mistake. 

" '  Certainly  Miss  Crawford  seems  to  have  been  studying 
the  art  lately  with  great  diligence,  if  one  may  judge  from 
the  results.' 

"  That  is  a  somewhat  doubtful  compliment,  still  I  must 
take  it  for  granted  that  you  meant  it  to  be  one,'  said  I. 
'  But  I  cannot  wait  to  listen — Mrs.  Harrington  is  wonder- 
ing what  I  am  about,  I  dare  say.' 

" '  And  we  are  not  friends  any  longer  ?  '  he  asked  with  a 
sudden  change  of  manner,  extending  his  hand  as  he  spoke. 

" f  The  best  of  friends,  certainly,'  I  answered,  '  only  1 
have  not  time  just  now  to  talk  about  the  matter.' 

"I  pretended  not  to  notice  his  oflered  hand,  and  ran 
away  down  the  corridor.  I  glanced  back  as  I  reached  hia 
mother's  door.  He  was  still  standing  where  I  had  left  him 
— he  was  looking  after  me.  All  this  seemed  needless  du- 
plicity, and  only  made  me  feel  more  harshly  toward  him.  I 
would  not  have  touched  his  hand  then  for  the  world.  Why 
did  he  wish  to  keep  up  the  farce  of  trying  to  make  me 
believe  that  my  opinion  was  of  consequence  to  him  ?  Per- 
haps from  that  absorbing  vanity  which  so  many  men  are 
said  to  possess,  which  makes  them  unwilling  to  suppose 
that  any  woman  in  the  world  is  absolutely  indifferent  to 
them. 

"  I  went  back  to  Mrs.  Harrington,  and  sat  reading  to  her 
for  a  long  time.  Then  my  maid  came  to  help  her  dress — 
we  had  both  forgotten  how  late  it  was.  The  carriage  was 
already  at  the  door. 

"  Lucy  Eaton  was  ready  when  we  sent  for  her,  and  in  the 
salon.  Mr.  Harrington  joined  us,  so  we  went  out  for  our 
drive.  It  was  almost  sunset,  one  of  those  glorious  days 
that  it  seems  to  me  only  Spain  can  show  in  their  full  perfec- 
tion. Italy  even  falls  short.  There  is  a  softness,  a  witchery, 
an  absolute  intoxication  about  them,  which  must  be  felt  in 
order  to  be  understood ;  but  any  one  who  has  enjoyed  them 
would  say  with  me,  that  no  words  could  be  found  to  express 
their  wonderful  charm. 


Mabets  Mistake.  289 

"A  rather  dull,  silent  otrive,  though  Lucy  Eaton  talked  a 
great  deal ;  and  James,  who  was  sitting  beside  her,  of  course, 
made  an  effort  to  talk  and  to  appear  interested.  But  it  was 
evident  that  it  was  an  effort — so  evident  that  I  wondered 
how  she  could  help  seeing  it. 

"  Mrs.  Harrington  was  in  one  of  her  most  quiet  moods, 
and  as  for  me,  I  leaned  back  in  the  carriage  and  kept  my 
mouth  resolutely  shut.  I  am  sure  I  must  have  looked  both 
obstinate  and  disagreeable,  but  I  could  not  help  it — in  fact, 
I  am  afraid  that  I  did  not  much  care. 

"  I  was  mortally  tired ;  I  could  not  tell  why.  Certainly  a 
few  hours  of  reading  aloud  could  not  have  reduced  me  to  a 
state  of  such  extreme  weariness,  and  I  had  made  no  other 
exertion  ;  but  body  and  mind  I  felt  utterly  prostrated,  as  if 
I  should  never  be  rested  or  strong  again. 

"  I  was  glad  enough  when  the  drive  was  over.  I  must 
have  shown  in  my  face  something  of  the  lassitude,  for  even 
Lucy,  who  was  the  most  thoughtless  and  unobservant  of 
human  beings  said,  as  we  got  out  of  the  carriage — 

" '  You  look  so  pale,  Miss  Crawford  ;  I  am  sure  you  can- 
not be  well.' 

" '  Only  dreadfully  tired,'  I  said ;  '  I  shall  have  a  cup  of 
tea  and  go  straight  to  my  room.' 

"  Mrs.  Harrington  was  inclined  to  be  anxious  about  me, 
but  I  succeeded  in  convincing  her  that  there  was  no  occa- 
sion. 

"  '  I  only  want  a  long  sleep  ;  I  was  wakened  very  early 
this  morning,  and  there  is  so  much  of  the  dormouse  about 
me,  that  if  I  am  cheated  out  of  a  single  half  hour  of  my 
usual  allowance,  I  am  fit  for  nothing  all  day.' 

"  I  knew  James  was  to  stay  with  his  mother ;  and  as  Lucy 
Eaton  seemed  inclined  to  spend  the  evening  too,  I  drank  a 
cup  of  tea  and  went  away  to  my  room. 

"I  undressed  myself  and  lay  down  on  my  bed,  too 
thoroughly  worn  out  to  sit  up  longer,  but  I  could  not  sleep. 


290  MabeFs  Mistake. 

I  felt  as  if  I  would  give  the  world  to  have  fallen  into  a 
slumber  so  heavy  that  it  could  not  have  been  disturbed  even 
by  a  dream,  till  the  new  day  came  in. 

"  But  not  even  a  sensation  of  drowsiness  would  come. 
There  I  lay  and  watched  the  full  moon  soaring  up  the  pur- 
ple heavens — thinking — thinking,  and  yet  so  longing  to  be 
free  from  thought — and  oh,  so  tired,  so  tired. 

"  Many  a  time  I  have  passed  a  week  that  did  not  seem  so 
long  as  that  night !  I  had  a  horrible  feeling  that  it  would 
never  come  to  an  end.  I  felt  as  if  time  had  ceased  suddenly, 
and  I  had  been  flung  into  the  pulseless  hush  of  eternity,  and 
was  to  be  left  alone  there  forever,  with  my  dreary  meditations 
for  company  and  punishment." 


CHAPTER  LIL 

GENERAL   HARRINGTON    RETURNS   WITH   ZILLAH. 

"  OF  the  remainder  of  that  week,  while  we  were  waiting 
for  the  General's  return,  there  are  no  events  to  record.  The 
time  passed  quietly  enough  ;  Mrs.  Harrington,  in  spite  of 
her  pining  somewhat  over  her  husband's  unexpectedly  pro- 
longed absence,  improved  in  health  every  day.  It  was  a 
great  pleasure  to  notice  how  each  morning  she  seemed 
stronger  and  brighter,  taking  a  new  interest  in  everything 
that  went  on  about  her,  and  so  cheerful  and  kind  that  I  grew 
to  love  her  very  dearly. 

"  I  suppose  I  may  as  well  own  the  truth ;  Lucy  Eaton  was  a 
great  trial  to  me.  I  have  no  doubt  that  I  was  cross  and 
irritable.  I  ir.ed  to  reproach  myself  twenty  times  each  day, 
for  being  so  captious  and  unreasonable ;  but  really,  that 
pretty,  childish  creature  fretted  me  almost  beyond  all  powers 
of  endurance. 


Mabels  Mistake.  291 

"  I  got  so  weary  of  hearing  about  dress,  that  I  felt  that  I 
should  never  care  again  whether  I  had  anything  pretty  or 
not.  As  for  young  men,  and  marriage,  and  the  pleasures  of 
society,  I  heard  them  discussed  until  I  wished  that  neither 
of  them  had  ever  had  an  existence. 

"  But  I  have  no  doubt  it  was  all  greatly  owing  to  the  state 
of  feeling  into  which  I  had  fallen,  and  I  knew  it  was  wrong, 
but  at  that  time  I  could  not  exercise  the  least  control  over 
myself. 

"  At  last  the  General  returned,  bringing  Zillah  with  him. 
I  was  out  of  the  room  when  he  arrived,  so  that  I  did  not 
witness  the  meeting  between  him  and  his  wife  ;  but  when  I 
joined  them  soon  after,  one  glance  at  Mrs.  Harrington's  face 
was  sufficient  to  show  how  happy  his  return  had  made  her. 

"  The  General  greeted  me  in  his  usual  cordial,  gallant 
manner.  I  was  very  glad  to  have  him  with  us  once  more. 

" '  James  cannot  know  you  have  come/  Mrs.  Harrington 
said,  ( or  he  would  be  here.' 

" '  He  is  quite  well,  I  hope,'  the  General  said. 

" '  Quite.     Oh  dear,  how  glad  I  am  to  have  you  back.' 

" '  You  may  know  by  your  own  pleasure,  how  glad  I  am 
to  return,'  he  answered.  '  Nothing  would  have  induced  me 
to  go  but  that  I  felt  it  right.  I  did  not  approve — I  may 
speak  before  my  dear  ward, — I  thought  James  quite  too 
young  to  be  entrusted  with  the  business  of  bringing  back  so 
pretty  a  girl  as  Zillah,  even  if  she  was  only  a  servant.' 

"'I  must  send  for  her,'  Mrs.  Harrington  said.  'Poor 
thing,  she  will  take  it  dreadfully  to  heart  if  she  thinks  I  am 
not  glad  to  see  her.' 

"  She  rang  the  little  bell  that  sat  on  the  table,  and  asked 
the  man  to  send  Zillah  in.  Just  as  he  went,  James  entered. 
I  looked  with  a  little  curiosity  to  see  the  meeting  between 
him  and  his  step-father. 

"  The  General's  manner  was  the  same  as  ever — that  exqui- 
site blending  of  courtesy  and  kindly  feeling  which  always 


292  MabePs   Mistake. 

characterized  his  communications  with  his  wife's  son.  But 
young  Mr.  Harrington  was  constrained,  almost  cold.  I 
knew  that  he  had  not  forgiven  the  General  for  the  course 
he  had  taken  regarding.that  journey. 

"  When  I  saw  that,  I  fairly  hated  him.  He  exchanged 
a  little  conversation  with  the  General,  talked  for  a  moment 
with  his  mother,  and  after  a  frigid  salutation  to  me  passed 
on  to  a  window,  and  stood  there  looking  out  into  the  court. 

"In  a  short  time  the  door  opened  again,  and  Zillah 
entered.  The  creature  fairly  bounded  toward  Mrs.  Harring- 
ton like  some  beautiful  wild  animal,  and  fell  at  her  feet, 
kissing  her  hands,  and  pouring  out  a  torrent  of  delighted 
exclamations. 

"  The  slave  was  more  gorgeously  lovely  than  ever ; 
somewhat  paler  and  thinner,  and  her  great  eyes  beamed  with 
more  eager  light. 

"  Mrs.  Harrington  was  touched  almost  to  tears  by  the 
girl's  manner,  but  to  me  it  was  fairly  repulsive.  Her  glad- 
ness was  so  exaggerated  that  I  could  not  help  thinking  it 
all  acting  from  beginning  to  end. 

"  '  I  am  so  glad,  so  glad  ! '  she  kept  repeating.  '  Dear 
mistress,  I  thought  I  should  die  and  never  see  you  again  ! 
It  broke  my  heart !  Oh,  I  am  so  happy.' 

" '  And  I  am  very  glad  to  have  you  back,  my  pretty 
Zillah,'  Mrs.  Harrington  said.  '  I  have  missed  you  very 
much.' 

"  Zillah  kissed  the  fair  hands  again,  but  it  seemed  to  me 
— oh,  how  suspicious  I  had  grown — that  the  evil  light  I  had 
so  often  noticed  in  her  eyes  deepened  till,  in  defiance  of  her 
beauty,  she  looked  absolutely  fiendish. 

" '  See,'  said  Mrs.  Harrington,  '  you  have  not  spoken  to 
Miss  Mabel' 

"  The  girl  rose  from  her  knees  and  came  toward  me, 
dropping  a  graceful  curtsey  that  seemed  to  me  fairly  insult- 
ing, instead  of  a  mark  of  respect. 


MabeVs  Mistake.  293 

" '  I  am  glad  you  are  quite  well  again,  Zillah,'  was  all  I 
could  bring  myself  to  say. 

"  She  murmured  something  —  I  do  not  know  exactly 
what — at  the  same  moment  she  caught  sight  of  James 
standing  in  the  window.  The  color  rushed  in  a  torrent  to 
her  face,  then  as  suddenly  receded,  leaving  her  pale  and 
trembling  with  excitement. 

"  She  went  timidly  toward  him.  He  did  not  stir— did  not 
even  look  round.  Was  it  because  he  was  afraid  to  let  us 
see  his  face  ?  • 

. "  Zillah  stopped  in  the  recess,  and  I  heard  her  say  in  a 
faltering  voice — 

" '  Mr.  James,  Mr.  James !  Everybody  else  is  glad  to 
see  poor  Zillah  back,  but  you  will  not  even  speak  to  me.' 

"  He  turned  then.  He  was  very  pale,  and  -his  features 
were  set  and  hard.  I  was  certain  this  arose  from  a  violent 
effort  to  conceal  his  feelings. 

" '  I  am  very  glad  you  are  well  again,'  he  said ;  '  my 
mother  has  missed  you.' 

"  The  girl  made  a  quick,  angry  gesture,  and  I  saw — yes, 
I  could  swear  that  it  was  not  fancy — I  saw  James  Harring- 
ton make  a  little  sign  with  his  hand,  as  if  to  caution  her. 

"  She  checked  herself  at  once,  and  with  a  few  broken 
words  about  her  love  of  her  mistress,  she  turned  away  and 
went  hastily  out  of  the  room. 

"'Poor  Zillah,'  said  Mrs.  Harrington,  'she  could  not 
bear  it  any  longer ;  she  has  gone  away  to  have  a  good  cry 
all  by  herself.  She  is  the  most  sensitive,  affectionate  crea- 
ture I  ever  saw  in  my  life.  I  must  go  after  her  or  she  will 
be  getting  into  one  of  her  desperate  fits,  thinking  nobody 
is  pleased  to  have  her  back.' 

" '  Better  leave  her  to  herself,'  the  General  said,  careless- 
ly;'  I  think  the  girl  is  a  good  deal  spoiled  already — better 
not  add  to  it.' 

"  James  darted  a  perfectly  furious  glance  at  him  as  he 
spoke,  then  turned  and  looked  out  of  the  window  again. 


294  Mabels   Mistake. 

" '  Perhaps  you  are  right,  dear/  Mrs.  Harrington  said ; 
'  I  do  spoil  the  child,  but  she  is  so  pretty,  I  really  cannot 
help  it.' 

" '  A  reason  that  answers  with  women,'  said  the  General, 
smiling,  'and  young  men,'  he  added  to  himself,  but  I 
caught  the  words,  low  as  they  were  spoken. 

"  I  suppose  my  face  betrayed  that  I  had  heard  him,  for 
he  gave  me  a  little  deprecatory  bow  and  smile,  half  playful, 
half  apologetic. 

"  James  moved  suddenly  from  the  window  and  was  leav- 
ing the  room. 

" '  Are  you  going  out,  dear  ?  '  his  mother  asked. 

" '  Not  yet,'  he  answered,  '  Have  you  any  commands, 
madre  mia  ? ' 

" '  None,  I  believe,'  she  replied  with  her  happiest  smile. 
'  Perhaps  Mabel  has,  though.' 

" '  Miss  Crawford  has  only  to  express  them,'  he  replied, 
half  turning  toward  me,  his  voice  changing  so  quickly, 
growing  so  cold  and  indifferent,  that  I  wondered  even  his 
mother,  unobservant  as  she  was,  did  not  notice  it. 

" '  You  are  too  kind,'  I  answered,  and  if  his  tone  was 
cold,  mine  certainly,  was  haughty  enough.  '  I  have  none 
with  which  I  need  trouble  you.' 

"  The  General,  whom  nothing  escaped,  looked  curiously 
from  one  to  the  other,  but  did  not  speak. 

" '  You  will  not  be  gone  long,  James  ?  '  Mrs.  Harrington 
asked,  with  the  unconscious  spirit  of  exaction  which  is  apt 
to  grow  upon  those  who  have  been  ill  and  suffered  a  good 
deal. 

" '  Not  long  enough  for  you  to  miss  me,  dear,'  he  replied, 
and  his  voice  was  kind  and  gentle  as  ever. 

"  I  must  do  him  that  justice  at  least — his  manner  to  his 
mother  never  varied.  Whatever  the  secret  was  that  dis- 
turbed him,  however  much  preoccupied  he  might  be — and 
sometimes  he  looked  worn  and  troubled,  as  a  man  might 


Mabets   Mistake.  295 

who  was  struggling  with  evil  spirits — he  had  always  cheer- 
ful words  and  smiles  at  his  command  for  her. 

"  He  went  up  to  her  now,  kissed  her  and  said  something 
in  a  low  voice — some  pleasant,  affectionate  words,  I  knew  by 
the  light  that  came  over  her  face. 

"  '  Good  morning,  James,'  said  the  General  kindly. 

"  '  Good  morning,  General  Harrington/  returned  he  in 
a  hard,  steely  voice,  bowed  to  me,  and  quitted  the  room 
abruptly. 

"The  General  shrugged  his  shoulders,  looked  somewhat 
impatient,  and  a  little  amused. 

"I  had  withdrawn  to  the  window,  and  the  General, 
walking  up  and  down  the  room,  passed  me,  and  stopped  a 
moment. 

"  '  I  gave  up  being  astonished  a  good  many  years  ago,' 
said  he,  ( but  I  confess  the  conduct  of  that  eccentric  young 
gentleman  almost  surprises  me.' 

"I  am  afraid  my  smile  expressed  something  like  con- 
tempt. 

"'Wasn't  it  Rochefoucault  who  said,  a  woman  is  hap- 
piest when  most  deceived  ? '  he  asked,  with  a  glance  towards 
his  wife.  '  Either  he  or  some  other  misanthropic  old 
Frenchman ;  but  whoever  it  was,  master  James  has  evi- 
dently read  and  remembered  the  maxim.' 

" '  What  conspiracy  are  you  and  Mabel  hatching  ? ' 
laughed  Mrs.  Harrington  from  her  chair. 

" '  Just  at  this  instant,'  returned  the  General, '  I  am  telling 
Miss  Mabel  that  she  looks  a  little  pale  and  out  of  spirits.' 

" '  She  has  been  kept  in  the  house  too  much  since  you 
went  away,'  his  wife  said.  '  Mabel,  dear,  James  must  take 
you  and  Miss  Eaton  to  drive.' 

"  '  I  dare  say  he  has  engagements,'  I  answered  carelessly. 
'  The  courier  can  go  with  us  perfectly  well,  and  with  him 
we  can  take  the  liberty  of  changing  our  minds  as  often  as 
we  please,  about  what  we  shall  do.' 


29fi  MabeCs   Mistake. 

" '  And  that,  I  suppose,  is  a  great  happiness  to  young 
ladies,'  said  the  General,  playfully. 

" 'At  all  events,  it  is  the  charge  made  against  us  from 
time  immemorial,'  I  replied,  trying  to  speak  in  the  same 
tone. 

" '  I  am  sure  Mabel  is  not  given  to  changing  her  mind,' 
said  Mrs.  Harrington. 

"  '  Uo,'  said  the  General,  '  there  are  many  subjects  upon 
which  her  opinion,  once  formed,  she  would  never  change,  I 
fancy,'  and  he  smiled  with  a  significance  which  I  thoroughly 
understood. 

"I  murmured  some  unintelligible  excuse,  and  left  the 
room.  I  heard  Mrs.  Harrington  say — 

"  '  See  Miss  Eaton,  dear,  and  settle  about  going  to  ride.' 
But  I  did  not  promise  to  do  so." 


CHAPTER  LIU. 

ZILLAH    IS   ANXIOUS    ABOUT   THE   HEALTH    OF    HER   MIS- 
TRESS. 

"  As  I  passed  the  salon,  the  door  was  open,  and  I  saw  the 
girl,  Zillah,  standing  before  James,  talking  eagerly,  and  evi- 
dently in  a  fierce  state  of  excitement.  Her  cheeks  were 
flushed,  her  eyes  blazing  —  she  raised  her  hands  with  a 
quick,  Southern  gesture  of  entreaty.  I  thought  she  was 
about  to  lay  them  on  his  arm. 

"  That  moment  he  caught  sight  of  me,  and  made  a  little 
sign — she  checked  herself  at  once.  He  looked  disconcerted, 
but  the  girl's  assurance  was  not  so  easily  shaken.  She  fol- 
lowed me  at  once,  and  as  she  overtook  me,  said — 

" '  Oh,  Miss  Crawford,  I  am  so  near  crazy  with  joy  at 
finding  myself  with  the  mistress  and  all  of  you,  again,  that 


Mabel's  Mistake.  297 

I  don't  know  what  I  do  or  say.  I  was  just  telling  Mr. 
James  how  happy  it  made  me  to  see  my  dear  mistress  look- 
ing so  much  better.  She  is  better,  Miss  Mabel,  you  are  cer- 
tain sure  of  that.' 

"  Her  look  was  eager ;  her  eyes  searched  mine  with  keen 
scrutiny. 

" '  She  is  greatly  improved,'  I  replied,  coldly. 

" '  I  was  very  sick,  too,  Miss  Mabel,'  she  went  on ;  'at 
one  time  I  thought  I  should  die,  and  never  see  her  again,  or 
the  master ;  master  James,  I  mean,  or  any  one.  Oh,  it 
seemed  as  if  heaven  was  cruel  to  me,  as  if  everything  I  saw 
was  cruel.' 

"  '  That  is  absolutely  wicked,  Zillah,'  I  answered,  almost 
harshly. 

"  '  I  know  it.  I  am  sorry  now — but  I  could  not  help  it. 
We  cannot  always  put  down  wicked  feelings.  But  you  are 
sure  that  the  mistress  is  better — getting  well  ? ' 

"  I  was  a  little  conscience-stricken  by  the  thought  that 
there  had  been  slight  Christian  feeling  in  the  admonition  I 
had  given  her,  and  so  found  nothing  to  say,  except  that  I 
was  sure  Mrs.  Harrington  was  almost  quite  well. 

" '  Are  we  going  to  stay  here  long,  Miss  Mabel  ? '  she 
asked,  following  me,  '  now  that  she  is  so  much  better — quite 
well — did  you  say  quite  well,  young  mistress.' 

" '  I  don't  know — perhaps,  since  Mrs.  Harrington  seems 
so  much  benefited  by  the  air.  The  doctor  considers  her 
almost  cured — there  is  only  the  weakness  to  overcome  now. 
You  can  see  how  the  color  has  come  back  to  her  face,  your- 
self, Zillah.' 

"  Zillah  gave  a  little  groan,  and  staggered  back  against 
the  wall,  pressing  her  hand  on  her  heart.  She  was  deathly 
white,  and  her  face  was  convulsed  with  pain. 

"  '  Are  you  sick  ?  '  I  demanded,  really  frightened,  ( What 
is  the  matter,  Zillah  ? ' 

"  '  Nothing — nothing,'  she  gasped.     '  Let  me  sit  down  a 


298  Mabets  Mistake.     t 

minute— only  a  pain.  I'm  not  very  strong  yet,  young  mis- 
tress.' 

"  She  sank  on  a  lounge  that  stood  in  the  corridor,  and 
covered  her  face  with  her  hand.  We  were  near  my  room, 
so  I  ran  in  there  and  got  a  glass  of  water  and  carried  it  to 
her. 

"  '  Drink  a  little,'  I  said. 

"  The  creature's  hand  shook  so  that  she  could  scarcely 
hold  the  goblet,  hut  the  tremor  passed  quickly. 

"  '  Thank  you,  young  mistress,'  she  said,  with  a  humility 
that  displeased  me,  because  it  looked  like  acting.  '  It  is  not 
the  thing  for  you  to  wait  on  me.' 

" '  Are  you  better  ?  '  I  asked. 

" '  Yes — yes — well  now !  I  think  it  was  only  joy — my 
dear,  dear  mistress  !  I  have  this  queer  pain  lately  when  I 
am  taken  of  a  sudden.  It  will  go  away  by  and  by ;  '  I'm 
going  to  lie  down — mayn't  I,  Miss  Mabel  ? ' 

"  It  was  absurd  to  ask  the  question — the  girl  had  always 
done  just  as  she  pleased. 

"  '  You  know  that  you  can,'  I  said. 

"  '  If  my  mistress  wants  me,  I'll  come  at  once — I  want  to 
do  everything  for  her  now.  I'm  quite  well — quite  strong.' 

"  She  got  up  from  the  lounge  and  walked  down  the  cor- 
ridor, but  her  step  was  unsteady  and  faltering.  I  was  sorry 
for  her,  but  my  repugnance,  my  absolute  repulsion  toward 
the  beautiful  creature  was  only  increased,  though  I  could 
not  have  told  why. 

"Even  her  affection  for  her  mistress  seemed  so  exagger- 
ated, that  I  could  not  believe  it.  Oh,  I  was  growing  very 
hard  and  wicked.  I  reproached  myself  bitterly,  but  the 
strange  distrust  would  not  be  overcome. 

"  There  is  a  fair  in  Seville,  where  many  curious  and 
beautiful  things  are  offered  for  sale.  This  morning  the 
Batons  were  urgent  that  we  should  go.  Some  of  the 
Kommany  gipsies,  from  Grenada,  had  camped  on  the  ground, 


Mabels   Mistake.  299 

and  Lucy  was  dying  to  have  her  fortune  told.  Did  the 
silly  wish  affect  me  ?  Was  I  weak  enough  to  cover  a 
latent  desire  to  consult  these  strange  people  under  the  pre- 
tence of  obliging  Lucy  Eaton  ?  I  fear  so.  In  the  restless 
state  of  mind  which  disturbed  me,  I  was  willing  to  fly  even 
to  absurdities  for  relief.  Mrs.  Harrington,  greatly  to  my 
astonishment,  consented  to  go  with  us.  James  protested 
a  little  against  this,  for  she  had  not  been  so  well  for  a  day 
or  two,  and  he  feared  the  fatigue ;  but  she,  too,  had  a  curi- 
osity to  see  the  gipsies,  and  protested  that  she  could  do  well 
enough.  If  they  had  any  fears,  Zillah  should  go  with  us; 
and  if  she  got  weary,  the  carriage  could  take  them  back  to 
to  the  hotel,  and  return. 

"  No  one  objected  to  this  arrangement,  which  delighted 
Zillah  inexpressibly.  The  girl  had  been  out  a  good  deal 
since  her  arrival,  especially  after  the  fair  commenced.  Once 
or  twice  I  had  seen  her  come  in  with  traces  of  strange 
excitement  in  her  face  and  manner.  She  gave  no  account  of 
herself,  when  questioned,  more  than  to  say  she  had  been  out 
to  see  the  town ;  but  I,  who  watched  her  closely  in  spite  of 
myself,  saw  that  she  was  pale,  silent  and  preoccupied,  for 
hours  after  these  excursions. 

"  This  morning  she  came  to  me  in  a  quiet,  mysterious 
manner,  which  seemed  to  spring  out  of  suppressed  excite- 
ment, and  hesitating  like  a  bashful  child,  asked  me  to  give 
her  a  little  money.  She  wanted  to  buy  some  ribbons  for 
her  hair,  she  said,  but  hated  to  ask  the  master  or  mistress 
for  money.  The  Spanish  servants  had  a  way  of  braiding  the 
hair  down  the  back,  and  knotting  it  with  bows  of  ribbon. 
She  wanted  to  surprise  the  mistress  by  the  length  of  her 
own  hair,  that  was  why  she  came  to  me  for  money. 

"  I  gave  her  a  napoleon,  and  in  doing  so  my  hand  touched 
hers.  It  was  cold  as  snow,  and  shook  nervously  as  I  laid 
the  gold  in  her  palm.  This  agitation  surprised  me,  and  I 
looked  suddenly  in  her  face  to  read  the  cause  there ;  but  her 


300  MabeVs  Mistake. 

eyes  were  cast  down,  and,  but  for  a  cold  whiteness  about  the 
mouth,  I  should  have  seen  but  little  difference  from  her 
usual  manner. 

" '  Zillah,'  I  said,  '  what  is  the  matter  that  you  look  so 
white  ? ' 

"  She  started  and  cast  a  frightened  look  upon  me,  while  a 
rush  of  crimson  swept  her  face  like  a  stormy  sunset. 

" '  So  white  ?  '  she  stammered.  '  Do  I  look  white  ?  ' 
Then  she  added  quickly,  with  a  faded  smile,  so  evidently 
forced  that  it  was  unpleasant  to  me,  '  Miss  Mabel  forgets 
how  ill  I  have  been ;  I  am  not  strong  yet,  and  it  doesn't 
take  much  to  tire  me — I  suppose  I  ran  down  stairs  too 
quick.' 

"  She  slipped  the  gold  I  had  given  her  into  her  bosom, 
and  thanking  me  again  for  it,  started  away  down  the  corri- 
dor. I  had  risen  and  was  moving  to  the  door,  intending  to 
go  to  Mrs.  Harrington's  room  to  speak  to  her  for  a  moment, 
when  Zillah  came  back. 

"  '  Miss  Mabel,'  she  said,  speaking  like  a  person  who  had 
been  running,  '  I  want  to  say  something  to  you — don't  be 
anxious,  may  be  it  is  only  my  foolishness — but  I'm  afraid 
the  dear  mistress  isn't  so  well  as  you  have  all  thought.' 

"  '  What  makes  you  think  that,  Zillah  ?  ' 

" '  This  morning,  when  I  was  dressing  her,  she  had  one  of 
her  old  faint  attacks,  but  she  made  me  promise  not  to  tell. 
Oh !  Miss  Mabel,  I  was  so  frightened — that  was  what  made 
me  look  so  strange  when  I  came  up.  I  can't  bear  to  think 
of  it !  My  mistress,  my  dear  mistress  ! ' 

"  She  was  wringing  her  hands  in  a  wild  agitation  that 
was  not  feigned,  and  I  did  all  that  I  could  to  comfort  her, 
though  this  sad  news  unnerved  me  almost  as  much  as 
herself." 


MabeVs  Mistake.  801 

CHAPTER  LIV. 

BEHIND    THE    GIPSIES'    TENT. 

"  SOON  after  Zillah  left  me,  a  servant  came  to  announce 
that  the  carriage  was  ready.  I  found  the  whole  party 
assembled  in  the  salon,  Zillah  waiting  outside  the  door.  I 
never  remember  to  have  seen  Mrs.  Harrington  in  such 
spirits  as  she  was  that  morning ;  she  looked  so  young  and 
pretty,  too,  that  it  seemed  impossible  that  she  could  be  the 
mother  of  that  handsome,  proud-looking  man.  We  drove 
through  the  streets,  away  out  of  the  town,  to  the  place  where 
the  fair  was  held.  It  was  an  odd,  picturesque  sight,  with 
the  gaily  decorated  booths,  the  crowds  of  quaintly  dressed 
men  and  women,  the  noise  and  laughter. 

"  There  was  a  throng  gathered  about  a  puppet-show,  some- 
what like  the  English  Punch  and  Judy,  shrieking  with 
laughter  like  so  many  children ;  a  group  of  girls  consulting 
an  old  fortune-teller ;  pretty  peasant  girls  from  the  hills 
slily  listening  to  compliments  from  the  town  gallants,  evi- 
dently to  the  great  indignation  of  their  country  swains ;  in 
short,  every  way  we  turned,  some  picture  that  would  have 
been  a  treasure  to  any  great  artist,  met  the  eye,  and  all  so 
strange  and  picturesque,  that  I  became  more  interested  than 
I  had  thought  possible. 

"  The  Gipsies  were  grouped  in  a  green  lane  just  on  the 
outskirts  of  the  fair.  I  had  seen  persons  in  my  own  coun- 
try who  claimed  to  be  these  people,  but  they  were  as  unlike 
the  pure  Rommany  gipsies  as  races  of  men  could  be. 
These  people  were  thin,  wiry  and  keen ;  their  features,  in 
most  instances,  finely  cut,  and  the  expression  of  their  coun- 
tenances full  of  sharp  intelligence.  They  had  pitched  a 
double  line  of  tents,  where  the  elder  women  were  busy  sell- 
ing drinks,  and  frying  cakes,  which  they  sold  hot  from  an 


302  Mabels  Mistake: 

iron  cauldron  foil  of  simmering  fat,  out  of  which  the  smoking 
cakes  were  lifted  with  a  skimmer,  as  customers  wanted 
them.  The  young  girls  of  the  tribe  hovered  around  the 
doors  of  the  tents,  or  were  grouped  in  a  larger  tent,  dancing 
for  money,  at  the  hehest  of  any  stranger  who  cared  to  amuse 
himself  by  their  wild  and  eccentric  movements. 

"  We  were  told  that  these  dances  were  not  always  such  as 
ladies  would  care  to  witness,  and  so  avoided  the  great  tent, 
and  gave  ourselves  up  to  the  swarms  of  women  who  were 
eager  to  tell  our  fortunes,  or  steal  our  purses,  as  the  case 
might  be.  In  the  midst  of  this  confusion,  Mrs.  Harrington 
took  hold  of  my  arms  in  a  wild,  agitated  way,  whispering 
that  she  was  tired,  and  would  like  to  go  home. 

"  I  looked  around  for  Zillah,  but  she  had  disappeared,  and 
the  gentlemen,  just  at  the  moment,  were  out  of  sight. 

"  '  Sit  here,'  I  said,  leading  Mrs.  Harrington  into  one  of 
the  tents,  'while  I  go  in  search  of  some  one  who  can  tell 
me  where  the  carriage  is.' 

"Mrs.  Harrington  sat  down,  white  and  faint,  both  Mrs. 
Eaton  and  her  daughter  came  to  her  and  offered  help. 
I  left  Lucy  fanning  the  gentle  lady,  and  went  into  the  lane 
in  search  of  Zillah,  though  her  mistress,  made  a  faint  effort 
to  prevent  it.  As  I  turned  a  corner  of  the  lane,  two 
women  who  stood  a  little  apart  from  the  road,  near  the  back 
of  one  of  the  tents,  struck  me  as  familiar.  They  stood 
upon  the  turf,  and  were  talking  earnestly.  One  held  some- 
thing in  her  hand,  which  she  looked  down  upon,  now  and 
then,  as  she  talked.  After  a  moment,  I  became  sure  That 
one  of  these  persons  was  Zillah,  and  went  toward  her.  The 
turf  on  which  I  walked  gave  forth  no  sound,  and  I  moved 
close  to  the  girl  before  she  could  be  aware  of  my  presence. 
That  moment  a  small  phial  passed  from  the  hand  of  that 
old  gipsey  woman  to  that  of  Zillah,  who  held  the  little 
flask  up  to  the  light,  and  examined  it  curiously,  speaking  in 
a  quick,  abrupt  way,  in  Spanish. 


Mabels  Mistake.  303 

"  I  could  not  distinguish  the  meaning,  she  spoke  so  rapidly. 
When  the  gipsy  answered,  I  caught  the  word  Droa,  uttered 
under  the  breath  two  or  three  times.  The  woman  seemed 
to  be  giving  some  directions ;  she  spoke  almost  in  a  whisper, 
and  I  saw  the  long  bony  hand  clutch  Zillah's  arm,  as  if  to 
impress  what  she  was  saying  more  forcibly  upon  the  girl's 
attention.  Then  I  saw  Zillah  hand  the  piece  of  gold  I  had 
given  her  that  morning,  to  the  woman,  while  she  asked  other 
questions  in  a  whisper. 

"  <  Zillah  ! ' 

"  The  girl  fairly  leaped  from  the  ground,  and  uttered  a 
sharp  scream,  as  if  I  had  struck  her  to  the  heart. 

" '  Zillah,  what  is  this  ?  Why  are  you  so  terrified  ? '  She 
had  drawn  back  towards  the  tent,  grasping  the  phial  close  in 
her  hands ;  then  with  her  wild  eyes  on  my  face,  and  her  fea- 
tures locked  in  gray  whiteness,  she  stood  a  full  minute  star- 
ing at  me  in  dumb  terror.  At  last,  she  faltered  out,  'Miss, 
Miss  Crawford,  how — how  you  frightened  me.  I — I  am  so 
nervous.' 

"  '  But  there  is  nothing  to  make  you  nervous,  Zillah.  I 
only  came  to  say  that  your  mistress  wishes  to  go  home.' 

" '  Oh  !  I  am  ready — I  am  ready,  but — but  when  did  you 
get  here  ?  We — we  were  talking — ' 

" '  About  something  you  had  in  your  hand.  What  is  it, 
Zillah?' 

"  I  saw  the  girl's  slender  fingers  close  spasmodically  on  the 
phial,  and  the  dead  whiteness  returned  to  her  face. 

" '  Oh  !  it  is—' 

"  Then  the  gipsy  broke  in.  '  It  is  a  love  philter — some- 
thing that  will  make  her  sweetheart  tender  and  faithful — 
would  the  senorita  like  to  buy  one  ?  ' 

"  I  turned  my  eyes  on  Zillah ;  she  was  still  pale,  and  trem- 
bled visibly.  With  her  magnificent  eyes  cast  down,  and  her 
whole  figure  bowed  as  if  by  some  invisible  power,  she  seemed 
to  deprecate  my  scorn  or  anger.  I  was  angry.  What  did 
19 


304  Motets   Mistake. 

she  want  with  the  philter  in  her  hand — to  whom  was  it  ap- 
plicable ? 

" '  Foolish,  ignorant  girl,'  I  said.  '  So  it  was  for  this  poor 
fraud  you  wanted  money.  Zillah,  I  thought  you  had  more 
sense  ? ' 

"  The  girl  stood  up  more  firmly.  It  seemed  as  if  a  load 
had  dropped  from  her  shoulders.  She  gave  a  sharp  laugh, 
and  said  '  I  know  it,  young  mistress.  It  is  a  folly — but  I 
could  not  help  it — the  gipsies  have  such  power — and  I  may 
never  see  them  again.  Don't  tell  of  me,  they  will  laugh 
so?'" 


CHAPTER  LY. 

BURDENED   WITH   A   SECRET. 

"  I  TURNED  away  without  answering,  only  ordering  Zillah 
to  have  done  with  such  nonsense,  and  go  to  her  mistress. 
She  walked  on  a  little  behind  me,  with  more  meekness  than 
was  natural  to  her;  but  I  was  troubled  with  a  sort  of 
dread,  which  nothing  in  the  circumstances  could  explain. 

"It  was  all  natural  enough.  In  the  name  of  heaven, 
what  had  I  suspected  ?  I  did  not  know — I  do  not  now  !  but 
I  felt  faint  and  sick  with  some  horrible  dread,  to  which  I 
could  give  neither  name  or  reason. 

"  Miss  Mabel/  said  Zillah,  coming  to  my  side.  '  I  sup- 
pose you  think  I  told  you  a  story  this  morning.' 

" ( Yes,'  I  said,  '  I  saw  you  give  that  money  to  the  old 
woman.' 

" '  I  was  ashamed  to  tell  you  what  I  really  wanted,  for 
fear  you  would  laugh  at  me,'  she  replied,  '  I  never  do  tell 
the  least  bit  of  a  fib  that  I'm  not  found  out.' 

" '  That  ought  to  teach  you  not  to  tell  any/  J  said^  rather 
severely. 


Mabets   Mistake.  305 

" '  Indeed  I  don't,  Miss  Mabel — unless  it's  about  some 
foolishness  like  this.  I'm  not  a  big  story  teller  —  don't 
think  1  am.' 

" '  I  shall  not  unless  you  force  me  to,'  I  answered. 
'  Come,  we  must  find  your  mistress  now.' 

" '  I  walked  quickly  on,  and  she  followed  me  in  silence. 
Once  I  glanced  back  at  her — there  was  an  expression  on  her 
face  which  puzzled  me,  yes,  almost  made  me  afraid.  I  could 
imagine  Clytemnestra  holding  her  midnight  watch,  with  a 
face  like  that — Lady  Macbeth  waiting  for  her  husband's 
return,  with  eyes  like  those — oh,  I  had  grown  so  fanciful 
and  silly  during  those  past  days. 

"  We  found  Mr.  James  Harrington  with  his  mother,  who 
was  just  driving  away  in  the  carriage. 

"When  it  came  back,  I  saw  him  return  to  the  Eatons, 
who  seemed  to  occupy  him  entirely.  Feeling  myself  com- 
pletely unregarded,  I  wandered  off  by  myself,  interested  in 
the  strange  people  that  surrounded  me. 

"  I  looked  about  and  found  that  I  had  lost  sight  of  the 
whole  party.  I  was  not  frightened,  because  the  fair  grounds 
were  in  full  view,  and  I  could  find  my  way  back  easily 
enough,  but  I  was  a  little  amazed  to  think  that  my  presence 
had  been  of  so  little  consequence  to  the  gentlemen  of 
the  party,  that  I  had  been  permitted  to  steal  away  unnoticed. 

"  I  walked  on  among  the  tents — nobody  looked  at  me 
unpleasantly  or  spoke  rudely  to  me,  and  when  my  first  feel- 
ing of  pique  had  subsided,  I  was  not  sorry  to  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  examining  more  closely  these  strange  and  incom- 
prehensible people  who,  during  so  many  ages,  have  kept  up 
their  distinctive  manners  and  customs,  as  much  a  mystery 
now  as  .when  they  first  made  their  appearance  among  the 
inhabitants  of  Europe. 

"  Such  picturesque  looking  men,  lazily  basking  in  the 
noon-tide  sun — such  groups  of  lovely  children,  that  would 
Lave  sent  Murillo  into  ecstacies — such  beautiful  girls,  whose 


306  Mabets    Mistake. 

every  movement  had  a  willowy,  sensuous  grace  that  the 
women  of  no  other  people  ever  possessed — weird,  witch-like 
old  crones,  with  such  depths  of  wickedness  in  their  fiery  eyes, 
that  in  looking  at  them  one  could  easily  have  believed  in  the 
old-time  evidence  of  those  who  made  bargains  for  their  souls 
with  the  Evil  One.  On  I  wandered,  sometimes  stopping  to 
admire  the  children,  or  speak  a  few  words  to  the  young 
girls. 

"  While  I  was  thus  occupied,  James  Harrington  joined 
me,  and  began  speaking  of  his  mother. 

" '  She  is  getting  worse,'  he  said,  '  and  I  can  do  nothing 
for  her.  It  seems  as  if  the  presence  of  this  slave  girl  has  a 
baleful  influence  on  every  one  she  approaches  ! ' 

"  I  looked  at  him  wonderingly.  Why  had  he  opened  that 
subject  with  me.  I  had  no  wish  to  discuss  it,  even  in  refer- 
ence to  his  mother.  Before  I  could  answer  him,  General 
Harrington  and  the  Eatons  joined  us,  and  we  all  walked 
back  to  the  hotel  together. 

"  I  went  at  once  to  Mrs.  Harrington's  room.  She  was 
lying  on  a  couch  near  the  window,  with  her  hands  clasped, 
and  her  eyes  closed ;  but  I  saw  the  lids  quivering,  and 
discovered  heavy  tears  dropping  one  by  one,  on  the  cushion 
beneath  her  head. 

" '  Are  you  so  ill,'  I  said,  sitting  down  on  the  edge  of  the 
couch  and  kissing  her  troubled  forehead. 

"  '-111 ! '  she  sobbed,  lifting  both  arms  toward  my  neck, 
like  an  unhappy  child,  '  Oh  Mabel,  my  heart  is  broken.  I 
shall  never,  never  be  well  again  ! ' 

"  She  trembled  all  over,  and  seemed  ready  to  go  into  con- 
vulsions in  my  arms. 

"  '  What  is  it,'  I  said.  '  What  could  have  happened  to 
distress  you  so  ? ' 

"  She  looked  into  my  face  so  helplessly,  that  my  soul 
yearned  toward  her. 

"  '  Tell  me,  oh  tell  me  of  the  trouble,  for  it  u  trouble,  and 


Mabets   Mistake.  307 

nothing  else,'  I  said,  holding  her  close  in  my  arms,  for*I  felt 
that  we  were  fellow-sufferers,  and  that  my  heart  must  ache 
with  something  more  painful  than  sympathy. 

"  She  began  to  tremble  again,  and  clung  closer  to  me. 

"'It  was  foolish.  I  did  wrong,  but  who  would  hare 
thought  what  would  follow.  I — I  saw  him  going  toward 
that  large  tent,  where  the  music  was.  Zillah  had  gone  in 
just  before,  while  I  was  buying  some  embroidery  of  a 
woman.  You  had  all  walked  on — I  wanted  to  speak  with 
Zillah,  and  followed  him.' 

"  l  Go  on/  I  said,  as  well  as  the  pain  at  my  heart  would 
permit  of  speech — for  she  stopped  suddenly,  and  made  a 
faint  effort  to  leave  the  clasp  of  my  arms.  '  Go  on,  you 
cannot  feel  this  more  than  I  do.' 

"  ( Ah,  you  love  me  so,  thank  God  for  that.' 

" ( And  you  can  trust  me,  I  would  not  speak  of  this,  dear 
friend,  to  a  living  soul,  not  to  save  my  own  life.' 

" '  It  is  not  that,  Mabel,  but  I  have  loved  him  so, — been  so 
proud  of  him.  Never,  till  this  day,  have  I  known  what  it 
was  to  suspect  any  one  dear  to  me.  Now  it  is  not  suspicion, 
but  certainty.  He  loves  her,  Mabel !  My  own  servant !  I 
saw  her  clinging  to  his  arm,  while  those  wild  girls  were 
dancing  before  them.  I  heard  him  tell  her  how  much  more 
beautiful  she  was  than  any  woman  he  had  ever  seen.  Don't 
look  at  me  so  wildly,  Mabel !  I  cannot  repeat  the  words, 
but  they  are  buried  in  here.' 

"  '  And  you  heard  this,  there  is  no  mistake.' 

" '  Mistake,  oh  if  there  could  be ! ' 

" '  Still  this  man  is—' 

"  '  I  know  it — the  shame  and  disgrace  must  be  buried 
here.  I  dare  not  speak  of  it,  dare  not  reproach  him — for 
there  is  one  who  loves  me  so  dearly  that  he  would  take 
revenge,  and  there  might  be  bloodshed  as  well  as  perfidy. 
Oh  Mabel,  I  am  glad  you  did  not  make  yourself  a  slave  by 
loving  as  I  wished.  All  this  is  terrible.' 


308  Mabets   Mistake. 

" '  Yes,'  I  said  hoarsely,  '  It  is  terrible,  but  it  does  not 
take  me  by  surprise.' 

"'Then  you  have  suspected  something — oh  Mabel,  keep 
that  girl  away  from  me.  I  will  be  silent,  I  will  do  anything 
a  good  woman  ought,  but  the  sight  of  her  will  be  too  great 
a  torment.' 

"  I  promised  to  keep  Zillah  away  if  that  were  possible, 
•without  giving  a  reason,  and  again  pledged  my  word  to 
hold  all  that  she  had  said,  secret  as  the  grave.  But  I  went 
to  my  own  room,  fell  upon  the  bed,  and  passed  into  an 
agony  of  jealous  shame. 

"  During  the  last  two  "weeks  Mrs.  Harrington  is  much 
•worse.  All  her  old  complaints  have  come  back,  and  she  lies 
upon  her  sofa  all  day  long,  weary  and  languid.  Nothing  can 
equal  the  devotion  of  her  husband  ;  as  for  the  son,  his  atten- 
tions are  unremitting ;  does  he  guess  why  she  is  so  much 
worse,  and  is  he  striving  by  kindness  to  silence  her  un- 
spoken reproaches  ?  She  gives  no  sign  of  the  trouble  that 
is  sapping  away  her  life,  not  a  word  has  passed  between  us 
since  that  day.  The  Eatons  have  left  us.  The  atmosphere 
of  a  sick  room  disturbs  them.  Worse  and  worse — alas !  I 
greatly  fear  this  gentle  lady  will  never  leave  Seville  alive. 
The  last  remnant  of  strength  seems  to  be  dying  out  of  that 
fragile  form. 

"  Zillah  is  most  attentive — always  by  her  door — always 
ready  to  be  of  service,  yet  I  loathe  and  fear  the  girl. 
There  are  times  when  her  eyes  have  a  look  that  makes  me 
shudder,  and  I  long  to  remove  that  pale,  gentle  creature 
from  her  care.  But,  strange  enough,  General  Harrington 
has  taken  a  singular  liking  to  the  girl,  and  insists  upon  it 
that  no  one  can  prepare  his  wife's  medicines,  or  soothe  her, 
so  well.  Poor  lady,  she  must  submit,  or  destroy .  all  her 
husband's  respect  for  the  son  who  has  wounded  her  so. 

"  Weaker  and  weaker — alas !  poor  lady,  she  seems  to 
have  no  real  illness,  but  fades  away  calmly  and  softly,  like 
a  flower  that  the  frost  had  kissed  to  death. 


Mabets   Mistake.  E09 

"Harrington  watches  the  gentle  decline  with  silent 
anguish,  that  I  can  feel,  while  I  bitterly  condemn  him. 
How  cold  and  distant  this  trouble  renders  me !  He  speaks 
sometimes  of  his  fears  as  she  grows  worse  and  worse,  but 
it  is  with  mournful  restraint,  and  when  I  lift  my  look  to 
his,  or  attempt  those  broken  words  of  comfort  that  spring 
naturally  to  the  lips,  he  turns  away  without  reply,  as  if 
my  attempt  at  consolation  had  only  deepened  his  remorse. 
Was  that  wild  confession  on  the  raft  all  a  dream  ?  Had 
terror  and  privation  rendered  me  delirious  ?  Could  these 
words,  so  deeply  written  in  my  memory,  have  been  only  a 
wild  hallucination  ?  Is  this  man  the  same  being  I  almost 
worshiped  then? 

"  She  is  dead — oh,  heavens  !  She  died  last  night,  with 
no  one  near  but  the  slave,  and,  as  the  girl  Zillah  said,  with- 
out a  struggle  or  a  sigh. 

"  The  slave  came  to  my  room  just  at  daylight,  weeping 
and  wringing  her  hands  in  such  distress,  that  she  fairly 
terrified  me,  when  I  saw  her  standing  in  the  open  door. 

" '  Oh,'  she  said,  tossing  her  arms  on  high,  '  she  is  gone, 
she  is  gone.'  I  watched  her,  young  mistress,  just  like 
a  mother  hangs  over  her  sick  child.  She  made  a  motion 
with  her  hand, — I  thought  she  wanted  more  drink,  but  .she 
turned  her  face  on  the  pillow,  and  looked  at  me  so  wild,  I 
couldn't  turn  my  eyes  away,  but  sat  watching,  watching, 
watching  till  her  face  turned  gray  under  my  eyes,  and 
I  could  see  the  white  edges  of  the  teeth,  between  her  lips, 
as  they  fell  more  and  more  apart.  I  reached  out  my  hand 
to  touch  hers.  It  was  cold  as  snow,  but  her  eyes  were 
wide  open,  looking  straight  into  mine,  dull  and  heavy,  as  if 
they  had  been  filling  with  frost.' 

"  In  the  gray  light  of  that  morning,  I  went  down  to  the 
death  chamber.  General  Harrington  and  James  received 
me  in  mournful  silence.  I  had  no  heart  even  for  unspoken 
reproaches,  there.  If  ever  forgiveness  was  glorified,  I  saw 
it  on  that  sweet,  dear  face. 


310  Mabel's  Mistake. 

"  We  passed  a  gloomy  day.  The  shock  has  been  terrible 
to  James,  terrible  to  us  all — for  the  General  is  greatly  dis- 
turbed, and,  as  for  the  slave-girl,  her  grief  is  fearful ;  she 
raves  rather  than  weeps,  and  trembles  like  an  aspen  at  the 
mention  of  her  dead  lady's  name. 

"  With  the  solemn  burial  services  of  the  Catholic  Church, 
we  have  consigned  the  remains  of  this  lovely  woman  to  her 
grave,  and  now  my  loneliness  is  complete.  My  own  poor 
heart  seems  to  have  partaken  of  the  chill  that  has  quenched 
her  life.  I  am  weary  of  this  beautiful  land — weary  of 
everything — alone  and  unloved ;  for  now  I  am  almost  sure 
my  own  wild  brain  coined  the  words  that  seemed  to  come 
from  his  lips  in  the  storm — alone,  unloved — what  remains 
for  me  but 

"  A  great  disappointment  has  fallen  upon  General  Har- 
rington. A  will  is  found,  and  every  dollar  of  his  wife's 
property  is  left  to  her  son.  All  this  seems  incomprehensi- 
ble. I  pity  the  proud  old  man. 

"  It  is  all  over  now !  Oh,  Heaven,  that  I  should 

have  so  deceived  myself!  Harrington  loves  another — Lucy 
whom  he  has  known  almost  since  childhood,  and  from  whom 
a  series  of  untoward  circumstances  separated  him.  There 
is,  there  can  be  no  doubt — no  room  for  a  single  hope — the 
General  himself  informed  me  of  it  to-day. 

"  I  cannot  write — I  cannot  even  think !  There  is  a 
strange  confusion  in  my  brain — a  fever  in  my  heart  which 
give  me  no  rest.  I  long  for  some  one  to  advise  me — some 
one  to  whom  I  can  look  for  sympathy — but  I  have  no  coun- 
sellor. Kindred — mine  are  in  the  grave  !  Friends — the 
last  one  sleeps  in  the  cemetery  yonder — in  the  wide  world 
I  am  utterly  alone.  The  General  grows  kinder  to  me  daily, 
but  to  him  how  could  I  speak  of  all  these  things  ?  No  !  I 
must  bury  the  secret  deep,  deep  in  my  own  heart — must 
endure  this  suffering  in  silence  and  alone. 

"  I  have  but  one  wish  now — could  I  but  be  the  means  of 


Mabel's  Mistake.  311 

uniting  James  Harrington  with  the  woman  he  loves.  The 
only  consolation  left  to  me,  would  be  to  know  that  he  was 
happy,  and  that  it  was  to  me  he  owed  that  happiness.  But 
I  can  do  nothing ;  the  General  only  hinted  at  some  myste- 
rious history,  and  he  requested  me  to  consider  all  that  he 
had  revealed  as  sacred.  Is  this  the  secret  ?  Does  Lucy 
Eaton  suspect  the  unworthiness  which  it  kills  me  to  know  ? 

"  Six  months  in  a  convent.  It  is  too  late  to  look  back,  or 
to  retract  anything  I  have  promised.  I  have  consented  to 
become  General  Harrington's  wife — to  fill  the  place  of  one 
who  took  me  to  her  heart  as  if  I  had  been  her  own  child, 
bestowing  upon  me  the  fondness  which  I  could  have  no 
right  to  claim,  except  from  a  mother. 

"  The  change  I  had  remarked  in  the  General's  manner 
was  not  fancy,  as  I  strove  to  think.  He  desires  to  make 
me  his  wife.  He  alluded  to  it  yesterday  for  the  first  time, 
and  to-night  I  gave  him  my  answer.  I  can  but  confess 
that  the  arguments  he  employed  were  just;  a  young  girl 
could  not  remain  in  the  house  with  a  man  no  older  than  he 
without  being  connected  to  him  by  a  nearer  tie  than  that 
which  binds  us.  He  spoke  to  me  very  kindly,  more  gently 
and  tenderly  than  I  had  thought  he  could  do.  He  believes 
that  I  have  formed  no  other  attachment,  or,  if  not  entirely 
heart  free,  it  was  but  a  girlish  fancy,  which  had  no  real 
basis.  He  assures  me  that  I  shall  be  happy  as  his  wife, 
but  my  heart  answers  how  impossible  that  is !  I  do  not  ask 
happiness — let  me  but  find  quiet  and  contentment — I  seek 
no  more. 

"  A  year  has  gone  by.  We  are  in  America  again.  Gen- 
eral Harrington  will  join  me  to-morrow.  Ay,  it  is  better 
thus — I  would  have  it  over.  Perhaps,  in  the  peaceful 
home  I  shall  find  in  my  native  land,  I  may  learn  to  still 
this  poor  heart  to  rest.  I  long  to  return. 

"  He  is  not  here.  He  left  us  when  we  reached  Madrid, 
for  the  purpose  of  entering  France  through  the  Basque 


312  MabeTs   Mistake. 

countries ;  but  this  month  the  General  received  another 
letter  from  him — lie  is  staying  in  Italy..  The  General,  it 
seems,  had  written  that  he  had  obtained  my  consent  to  be- 
come his  wife,  and  the  answer  is — '  Whatever  will  conduce 
to  your  happiness,  and  that  of  the  lady,  must  he  acceptable 
to  me.' 

"  Nothing  more — not  even  an  expression  of  astonishment ! 
Yes,  it  is  better  thus !  I  will  marry  General  Harrington — 
he  is  the  only  being  on  earth  who  cares  for  me — the  only 
one  who  would  seek  to  render  me  happy.  In  a  few  years 
he  will  be  an  old  man,  and  the  trust  and  friendship  I  now 
feel,  will  be  sufficient  to  his  contentment.  This  firm  and 
trusting  friendship  I  shall  alwaj'S  be  willing  to  give.  If  I 
do  not  accept  him,  where  am  I  to  turn  for  a  protector — of 
what  avail  is  my  great  wealth,  since  it  cannot  win  for  me  a 
home  in  any  human  heart  ? 

"  I  marvel  at  my  own  calmness — pray  Heaven  that  when 
too  late,  I  do  not  find  that  it  has  been  only  the  apathy  of 
despair.  I  will  be  calm — my  hushed  and  trembling  heart 
shall  at  least  be  silent — by-and-by  it  will,  perhaps,  be 
numbed  into  insensibility.  I  can  expect  nothing  more  ;  for 
I  know  that  the  uprooted  flowers  of  a  love  like  mine  caii 
have  no  second-blossom,  the  sweet  fountain  of  affection 
once  wasted,  its  waters  may  never  flow  again. 

"  I  will  write  no  more  in  my  journal  for  a  season — why 
should  I  make  this  record  of  my  weary  life — this  plaint  of 
my  troubled  soul  ? 

"  I  have  suffered  the  one  terrible  grief  of  a  lifetime  ;  of 
what  avail  to  inscribe  upon  these  pages  a  memento  of  a 
lasting  wretchedness ! " 


MabeFs   Mistake.  333 


CHAPTER  LVL 

TOO     LATE,     TOO     LATE. 

"  A  YEAR  to-day  since  I  became  a  wife,  a  year  into  which 
has  been  crowded  an  eternit}'  of  sorrow  and  regret;  can  I 
never  learn  to  endure  in  silence !  Did  my  husband  mean 
to  deceive  me  when  he  told  me  that  James  Harrington  was 
plighted  to  another.  I  spoke  of  it  to-day  trembling  as  the 
words  left  1113"  month.  My  husband  laughed  pleasantly,  and 
answered  'oh,  child,  that  was  a  love  ruse.  I  had  a  vague 
fancy  that  the  young  fellow  might  be  in  my  way,  and  so 
disposed  of  him  poetically.  There  was  nothing  in  it.  The 
fellow  has  not  spirit  enough  to  win  a  beautiful  woman.' 

"  Great  Heaven  !  did  he  know  how  faint  and  cold  those 
words  left  me — how  I  almost  loathed  him  for  this  awful 
fraud.  God  help  me — God  help  me  to  forgive  him  !  It 
seems  now  as  if  I  never  could.  How  this  portion  of  my  life 
lias  passed  I  hardly  know  ;  seldom  have  I  made  a  record  of 
its  secrets.  Much  of  the  time  has  been  spent  in  the  gay 
world,  for  my  husband — how  strangely  the  word  husband 
sounds  even  now — seems  to  grow  every  day  fonder  of  its 
pleasures.  The  months  thus  spent  have  been  most  weari- 
some to  me ;  I  like  better  the  calm  retreat  where  I  have 
spent  my  summers,  with  only  a  few  servants  to  disturb  the 
quiet  of  the  house,  and  faithful  Ben  Benson,  who  has  never 
left  us,  to  gratify,  as  if  by  magic,  every  wish  of  his  capri- 
cious mistress.  But  there  is  to  be  a  change — henceforth 
we  are  to  reside  wholly  at  the  North,  and  he  is  coming 
home  to  live  with  us. 

"  A  new  blessing  has  been  granted  to  me  !  Forgive  me 
my  God,  that  I  have  dared  thus  to  repine  and  forget  that 
Thy  protecting  care  was  over  me  !  I  am  a  mother  !  My 
baby  sleep?  in  his  cradle  by  my  side,  and  one  glance  at  his 


314  Mabels  Mistake. 

face  makes  me  forget  all  the  misery  I  have  endured.  James 
returned  during  my  illness.  My  heart  was  too  full  of  its 
new  bliss  for  any  other  feeling.  With  my  child  folded  over 
my  heart,  I  could  meet  him  without  one  of  its  pulses  being 
stirred — there  is  a  sacredness  in  the  duties  God  has  now 
given  me,  which  I  should  not  have  dared  profane  by  one 
human  regret. 

"He  looks  ill  and  careworn — would  that  I  might  speak 
of  his  affairs,  but  I  can  do  nothing,  though  it  is  fearful  to 
see  him  thus ;  to  know  that  he  suffers  and  feel  that  I  have 
no  power  to  relieve  him.  He  seems  to  love  my  baby. 
Heaven  bless  him  for  that !  The  General's  indifference  has 
pained  me,  but  the  nurse  says  men  never  like  children — 
when  he  grows  older  and  his  father  sees  him  all  that  is 
noble  and  good  he  will  love  him  ;  how  could  he  do  other- 
wise?— my  precious,  precious  child. 

"  This  little  girl,  poor,  forsaken,  young,  innocent,  she 
seems  to  have  been  sent  to  be  the  companion  of  my  boy. 
How  he  loves  her  already;  bending  over  the  cradle  where 
she  lies  to  touch  her  little  face  with  his  dimpled  hands,  his 
great  eyes  lit  up,  and  his  whole  countenance  aglow  with 
feeling,  such  as  one  seldom  witnesses  in  a  child.  This  is 
only  another  kind  act  for  which  I  have  to  bless  Ben  Benson. 
He  found  the  infant  wandering  away  from  some  unknown 
home  in  a  fearful  storm,  almost  perished,  and  unable  to  tell 
even  her  name. 

"  It  is  a  beautiful  child,  and  the  nurse  pronounces  her  a 
very  healthy  one.  The  General  seems  quite  willing  that  I 
should  adopt  her ;  so  I  have  now  a  daughter — the  word 
sounds  sweet,  very  sweet  to  me.  James  looks  at  mo 
strangely  as  I  sit  with  Lina  in  my  lap,  and  little  Ralph  by 
my  side,  there  is  a  mournfulness  in  his  face  which  wrings 
my  very  heart ;  doubtless  he  reflects  upon  the  happiness 
denied  him — ah  !  he  need  not  envy  me  a  few  blessings 
which  have  been  bestowed  upon  me. 


Mabets  Mistake.  315 

"  Am  I  happier  now !  "My  children  are  growing  all  that 
I  could  wish.  I  have  wealth,  kind  friends — say,  am  I- 
happy  ?  I  would  not  repine  nor  be  ungrateful,  but,  oh ! 
were  it  not  for  the  little  ones  Heaven  has  confided  to  my 
care,  how  gladly  would  I  seek  a  quiet  resting  place  in  the 
grave  ! 

"  I  know  now  that  time  cannot  alleviate  suffering,  that 
nothing  can  teach  the  heart  to  forget  or  still  it  into 
quietude,  save  for  a  little  season.  Yet  my  existence  is  not 
wholly  vain,  and  while  those  youthful  creatures  need  my 
care  I  am  willing  to  live,  but  there  are  times  when  the 
burden  forced  upon  my  soul  seems  harder  than  I  can 
endure.  Wken  I  fling  myself  down  in  utter  despair,  feel- 
ing unable  to  tread  longer  the  weary  path  which  lies  before 
me. 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  I  should  suffer  less  could  I  but  see 
James  happy,  but  his  sad  silence  increases  my  own  pain. 
He  is  always  gentle  and  kind,  devoted  to  the  children ;  full 
of  respect  and  quiet  attentions  for  me ;  but  how  changed 
from  the  bright  youth  of  former  years.  How  distant  that 
season — through  what  a  fearful  gloom  I  look  back  upon  the 
brightness  of  those  summer  years  !  How  often  I  ask  my- 
self if  I  am  indeed  the  dreaming  girl  who,  in  her  chamber 
at  Neathcote  watching  the  stars  out  in  a  vigil  which  was 
like  a  charmed  vision,  believing  that  life  was  to  be  one 
long  fairy  dream  of  delight. 

"  I  have  been  thinking  of  that  sail  upon  the  lake.  I 
could  not  help  it !  Ralph  brought  me  some  water  lilies 
that  he  and  Lina  had  gathered ;  as  if  the  odor  of  those 
flowers  had  possessed  a  spell  to  conjure  up  the  past,  the 
fleeting  happiness  of  that  summer  day  came  back  to  me. 

"  Kalph  left  me  alone,  and  for  a  long  hour  I  gave  myself 
up  to  the  feelings  which  his  simple  offering  had  aroused. 
I  had  not  thought  there  could  be  so  much  of  passion  in  my 
Buffering  now — the  tears  I  shed  burned  my  cheek  like 


316  MabeTs  Mistake. 

flame ;  and,  when  the  storm  gust  had  spent  its  might,  I  lay 
back  on  my  couch,  weak  and  faint. 

"  I  was  roused  from  those  haunting  memories  by  voices 
beneath  my  window — it  was  his  voice  ;  lie  was  conversing 
with  Ralph.  I  leaned  forward,  and  looked  down  upou 
them — then  I  realized  how  fearful  was  the  change  which 
had  passed  over  him.  I  had  been  dreaming  of  him,  as  he 
appeared  upon  that  blessed  day,  and  the  being  I  beheld 
beneath  my  casement  looked  like  tho  ghost  of  the  happy- 
eyed  boy  of  my  vision. 

"  0,  had  he  but  confided  in  me — would  he  but  have 
trusted  me  as  his  sister — hush  !  am  I  not  a  wife?  Whith- 
er have  my  mad  thoughts  led  me !  My  God,  have  mercy 
upon  me,  stay  the  terrible  tempest  which  has  desolated  my 
whole  being,  and  now  breathes  its  deadly  simoon  through 
the  sepulchre  which  was  once  a  ht;art.  I  will  neither  write, 
nor  think  more — there  must  be  an  end  of  this  weakness — 
how  unlike  the  foititude  I  had  promised  myself  to  ac- 
quire. 

"  Yet  it  seems  strange  that  I  have  no  right  to  indulge  in 
these  memories  of  an  era  in  my  existence  gone  forever ! 
How  few  and  fleeting  were  those  moments  of  unshadowed 
sunlight ;  the  brightest  twin  memories  which  my  soul  can 
recall,  were  given  to  me  under  such  different  auspices.  Of 
the  first  sweet  hour,  I  have  just  promised  my  soul  never 
again  to  think — upon  the  gloomy  waters  of  my  existence, 
no  lilies  are  blossoming  now — the  last  withered  flowers  have 
been  torn  from  their  roots,  and  swept  idly  down  the  current 
to  perish,  leaving  only  a  faint  perfume  in  my  heart,  which 
is  but  an  added  pain. 

"  Xo\v  I  know  that  its  very  bliss  was  a  delusion  of  my 
fancy,  like  the  words,  I  believed  to  have  heard,  wrung  from 
Harrington's  breast  during  that  fearful  tempest,  when  we 
stood  upon  the  deck  of  the  ill-fated  vessel,  and  death 
seemed  so  near  us.  Could  I  have  died  then,  died  with  his 


Mabel 's  Mistake.  317 

arms  enfolding  me,  his  manly  heart  against  my  own,  the 
measure  of  my  existence  had  been  complete — it  began 
beneath  the  sunlight  of  his  smile,  it  would  have  ended  with 
the  last  life-pulse  within  his  noble  bosom. 

"Now  I  will  lay  this  book  aside  nor  shall  my  hand  again 
turn  its  pages,  until  I  have  taught  myself  something  of  the 
quiet  I  have  so  long  striven  to  attain.  If  in  the  sight  of 
Heaven  I  have  sinned,  cannot  my  sufferings  atone  for  it  ? 
— the  evil,  if  evil  there  has  been,  was  involuntary ;  the 
penitence  has  been  deep  and  earnest ;  surely  the  angels 
watching  over  me  will  not  let  it  be  without  avail. 

####          *         *### 

"  Great  heavens !  will  this  heart  never  have  rest — will 
years  do  nothing  for  me  ?  Ralph  is  now  a  man  ;  Lina,  one 
of  the  most  lovely  creatures  I  ever  saw.  These  two  chil- 
dren, whose  infant  kisses  seem,  even  now,  upon  my  lips, 
have  sprung  up  into  sudden  youth,  and  seem  ready  to 
escape  my  love.  Yesterday,  Lina  came  to  me  with  a  world 
of  innocent  blushes,  and  hung  about  my  chair,  as  if  long- 
ing to  whisper  some  secret  into  my  ear,  yet  without  the 
courage  to  speak.  I  wondered  what  the  child  wanted,  but 
would  not  force  her  confidence. 

"  I  thank  God,  oh  !  I  thank  my  God  that  I  am  alivo. 
The  terrible  shock  of  that  night  is  still  through  my  frame. 
I  have  been  so  close  to  death,  that  the  vitality  at  my  heart 
seems  unreal.  Last  night  I  was  hurled  into  the  depths  of 
the  river,  that  is  even  now  rushing  onward  to  the  ocean 
so  near  to  my  window,  that  the  eternal  sweep  of  its  waters 
haunt  me  like  a  threat  of  death. 

"  He  saved  me — or  rather  they — for  Ben  Benson  was  in 
the  midst  of  the  storm,  resolute,  like  the  other.  I  must 
have  been  dead  for  a  time,  for,  when  my  memory  came 
back,  it  seemed  as  if  I  had  forgotten  all  these  miserable 
years  of  married  life,  and  was  upon  that  heaving  raft  again, 
witn  his  arms  arouud  ine,  and  whispering  those  lo\v;  ^as 


318  Mabels   Mistake. 

sionate  words  in  my  ear.  Why  did  that  dream  come  back 
then  ?  Was  it  to  lay  my  heart  open,  and  reveal  to  me  how 
little  prayer  and  time  have  done  to  wrest  this  first  and  last 
love  from  my  heart  ?  " 


CHAPTER  LYII. 

ZILLAH. 

As  General  Harrington  hurried  through  his  wife's 
journal,  his  eyes  grew  bright  and  cold,  like  steel  when  the 
sun  strikes  it ;  his  lips,  always  so  soft  and  sensual  in  their 
expression,  became  rigid  with  passion,  and  clung  together 
hardened  by  the  silent  rage  that  burned  in  the  depths  of 
his  heart.  Had  Mabel  proved  herself  vicious  or  unprinci- 
pled in  the  book  so  cruelly  purloined,  he  might  have  for- 
given it ;  but  here  the  struggle  to  love  him  had  been  so 
great,  that  it  wounded  his  self-love  in  every  fibre.  The 
struggle  to  love  him — General  Harrington,  the  invincible, 
the  adored  of  so  many  hearts  !  "  He  would  soon  be  an  old 
man,  and  then  the  friendship,  which  was  all  her  heart  could 
ever  give,  would  content  him.  He  an  old  man — he  who 
had  solemnly  determined  never  to  know  what  age  or  infirm- 
ity was."  The  insult  was  too  much.  His  outraged  vanity 
haidened  into  absolute  malice.  For  the  first  time  he  posi- 
tively hated  the  man  who  could  be  loved  better  than  himself. 
He  forgot  the  self-sacrifice,  the  wealth  given  up  to  his  use 
— the  sublime  devotion  which  had  made  James  Harrington  a 
guardian  angel  to  Mabel's  son.  He  forgot  everything  save 
that  the  noble  girl  he  had  married  for  her  wealth — wealth 
even  on  her  wedding-day  half  squandered  at  the  gaming 
table,  by  an  unfaithful  guardian,  had  give  the  preference  of 
her  taste — he  cared  little  for  a  deeper  feeling — to  one 


MabeFs  Mistake.  319 

younger  than  himself,  and  that  one  the  man  to  whom  his 
first  wife's  wealth  had  descended  in  one  vast  property. 

Was  it  not  enough  that  the  young  man  had  stepped  into 
his  place  on  the  death  of  his  mother — that  when  he  fancied 
himself  in  the  untrammelled  possession  of  her  fortune,  a 
will,  undreamed  of  during  her  life,  should  have  been  found, 
transmitting  every  dollar  of  her  property  into  the  uncon- 
trolled possession  of  a  son — was  not  this  disappointment 
enough  ?  Must  his  self-love  and  pride  he  swept  into  the 
same  vortex  ?  Had  hoth  wives  proved  their  treason  against 
him  where  he  was  most  sensitive  ? 

The  old  man  would  not  remember  that  James  Harring- 
ton had  not  only  allowed  him  to  remain  the  ostensible 
possessor  of  this  large  fortune,  undoubtedly  his  own  just 
inheritance,  but  that  more  than  two  thirds  of  the  annual 
income  had  for  nearly  twenty  years  been  surrendered  to  his 
unquestioned  disposal.  He  forgot  that  Mabel's  fortune  had 
melted  away  at  the  gaming-table  without  inquiry  or  protest 
on  her  part,  and  that,  in  fact,  his  own  luxurious  life  was 
fostered  only  by  their  magnanimous  bounty.  All  these 
things  were  ignored  in  his  rage  at  the  secrets  revealed  in 
that  unhappy  journal,  and  he  really  believed  himself  the 
most  wronged  and  outraged  of  human  beings — wronged  be- 
cause the  woman  whom  he  had  first  married  for  her  wealth 
alone,  had  divined  the  truth,  and  left  all  that  she  possessed 
to  her  son,  which  seemed  a  new  offense  to  him  then — and 
outraged  that  any  woman  honored  by  his  preference,  should 
ever  have  given  another  place  in  her  thoughts.  His 
grounds  for  anger  went  no  deeper  than  this  at  the  moment, 
for  even  his  stony  heart  would  not  give  birth  to  a  thought 
of  wrong  against  Mabel,  beyond  the  erring  love  so  feelingly 
regretted  in  every  line  of  that  book ;  but  there '  was  a 
tempter  at  hand,  ready  to  infuse  venom  into  even  his  selfish 
nature. 

General  Harrington  sat  with  the  book  open  before  him, 
20 


320  Mabels  Mistake. 

One  hand,  on  which  was  a  costly  seal-ring,  had,  in  uncon- 
scious warmth,  grasped  a  dozen  of  the  leavae,  and  half-torn 
them  from  the  cover,  while  his  eye  read  on,  fascinated,  and 
yet  repulsed  by  the  secret  thoughts  thus  torn  with  unman- 
ly violence  from  poor  Mahel's  life.  All  the  craft  and  cool- 
ness of  his  nature  had  disappeared  for  the  moment.  His 
whole  heing  was  fired  with  disgust  and  bitter  rage.  Still, 
in  his  soul,  he  felt  that  these  two  persons  had  in  reality 
suffered  a  deadly  wrong  from  himself;  that,  after  encourag- 
ing the  attachment  which  he  had  hoped  might  spring  up 
between  them  before  his  wife's  death  had  swept  her  great 
wealth  out  of  his  hands,  he  had  ruthlessly,  and  without 
questioning  the  state  of  these  two  souls,  severed  them  for 
the  accomplishment  of  his  own  interests.  It  had  not  once 
occurred  to  him  that  any  lasting  attachment  for  another 
could  exist,  while  he  condescended  to  solicit  a  woman's 
preference ;  and  that  which  had  for  a  time  made  itself  man- 
ifest between  the  two  young  people,  only  gave  a  fresher 
zest  to  his  conquest.  To  win  a  woman  from  one  so  much 
younger  than  himself,  was  even  then,  a  triumph  almost  as 
agreeable  as  the  possession  of  Mabel's  fortune. 

But  now,  when  he  was  beginning  to  feel  the  approach  of 
age,  and  to  wither  under  the  preference  given  to  younger 
men — a  preference  rendered  each  day  more  decided  in  a 
country  where  statesmen  are  jostled  aside  by  beardless  boys, 
and  the  senseless  giggle  of  pert  school  girls  might  drive 
Sappho  into  a  second  watery  grave,  sickened  with  disgust. 
His  personal  vanity  became  almost  a  monomania,  and  he 
sat  there,  clutching  Mabel's  book,  pale  as  death,  and  with 
flecks  of  foam  gathering  upon  his  lips,  longing  to  appease 
his  mortified  vanity  by  tearing  fiercely  at  something,  as  a 
baffled  hound  digs  his  claws  into  the  earth  when  his  prey  is 
beyond  reach. 

As  he  sat  there  shaking  with  silent  rage,  a  door,  not 
used  for  years,  opened  in  bis,  bed-chamber,  £nd  a  woman 


Mabel's  Mistake,  321 

came  through,  leaving  the  dark  and  dusty  room  which 
had  for  a  short  time  been  occupied  by  the  first  Mrs. 
Harrington,  before  her  fatal  voyage  to  Europe,  in  total 
darkness  again.  She  stood  for  a  moment,  concealed  by  the 
crimson  curtains,  and  keenly  watched  the  old  man,  as  he 
sat  trembling  before  her  in  the  first  rage  of  his  humiliation. 
Then,  having  satisfied  herself  that  her  hour  was  propitious, 
she  stole  softly  into  the  library,  and  dropping  one  arm 
softly  over  General  Harrington's  shoulder,  stooped  down 
and  kissed  his  forehead.  The  old  man  started,  looked  up, 
and  a  faint  laugh,  almost  childish  in  the  sudden  reaction 
from  which  it  sprung,  broke  from  his  lips. 

tf  Zillah,  my  beautiful,  my  true-hearted,  is  it  you  ?  " 
The  woman  dropped  on  one  knee,  trembling  from  head 
to  foot.  Some  endearing  epithet,  uttered  in  French,  which 
converted  the  laugh  on  his  lips  into  a  smile,  broke  as  it 
were,  unconsciously  from  her ;  and  he  felt  the  arm  upon  his 
shoulder  shiver  like  the  wing  of  a  bird  just  as  it  settles 
after  flight. 

He  answered  her  in  French,  and  his  eyes,  full  of  grati- 
tude for  the  balm  her  emotion  brought  to  his  vanity,  sought 
hers. 

"  Zillah,  you  loved  me.  I  am  at  least  sure  of  that !  " 
"  Loved ! "  said  the  woman,  lifting  her  black  eyes,  to  his 
face.  "  Loved  my  master.  You  speak  as  if  such  feelings 
were  not  eternal ;  to  say  that  your  poor  slave  loved  once,  is 
nothing ;  turn  over  every  leaf  of  her  heart,  and  you  will 
find  the  same  record  upon  them  all.  Thank  Heaven,  I 
am  not  entirely  white  !  There  is  enough  of  tropical  fire  in 
my  blood,  to  save  me  from  burying  my  soul  under  the  ashes 
of  a  dead  love." 

"  How  beautiful  you  are  still,"  muttered  the  old  man, 
passing  his  palm  over  the  black  waves  of  her  hair,  with  a 
light  caress.  "  Your  presence  kindles  the  very  atmosphere. 
This  is  to  be  worshipped  worthily.  You  loved  me,  and  I 


822  MabeFs   Mistake. 

sold  you  for  her  sake.  I  bartered  you  off  for  so  much 
money  to  another ;  it  was  a  cruel  act,  Zillah ;  but  your  love 
surmounted  even  that,  while  hers  " 

"  She  never  loved  3rou  ;  never — never !  "  cried  the  wo- 
man, passionately.  "  I,  I  alone  of  all  the  women  on  earth, 
really  loved  you.  As  for  her  " 

"  Hush,  Zillah,  hush  !  I  know  all.  I  have  read  that 
book.  I  know  all  her  treachery ;  and  he,  ever  a  serpent  in 
my  path,  ever  a  restraint  upon  my  actions,  he  has  in  this 
point  also  assailed  me." 

"But  there  is  revenge!"  said  the  woman,  with  a  fierce 
gleam  of  the  eyes  ;  "  revenge  on  him  and  her  !  " 

"  No !  "  answered  the  General,  gloomily.  "  To  anger 
him,  would  be  to  make  myself  a  beggar.  I  must  bear  this 
in  silence." 

"Not  if  he  loves  her  yet." 

"  But,  does  he  ?  What  man  ever  remained  faithful  to  a 
first  love  twenty  years  ?  " 

A  faint  moan  broke  from  the  woman's  lips,  and  dropping 
her  face  between  her  hands,  she  cowered  at  his  feet,  as  if 
he  had  stricken  her  down  with  a  blow,  instead  of  those 
cruel  words  that  no  physical  pain  can  equal,  when  they  fall 
upon  a  woman's  heart. 

"What  is  the  matter,  Zillah?  Why  do  you  moan  and 
droop  in  this  fashion  ? "  said  the  General,  quite  uncon- 
scious of  the  pang  he  had  given. 

The  woman  looked  up ;  her  eyes  were  heavy  with  pain, 
and  a  scarcely  perceptible  quiver  stirred  her  mouth. 

"He  sold  me,  and  I  lived;  this  cannot  kill  me  either," 
she  murmured  drearily. 

"  Oh,"  said  the  General,  smiling,  for  he  began  to  divine 
the  cause  of  her  stricken  attitude.  "But  remember, 
Zillah,  you'were  not  my  first  love.  I  was  no  boy  when  we 
met,  and  it  was  of  boyish  dreams  that  I  spoke." 


MabeFs  Mistake.  323 

CHAPTER  LVIII. 

GENERAL   HARRINGTON'S    TEMPTATION. 

ZILLAH  drew  a  deep  breath,  and  raised  herself  up,  like  a 
panther  which  a  ball  has  grazed.  A  wild  illumination  shot 
over  her  face,  and  seizing  the  General's  hands,  she  kissed 
them  passionately. 

"  Foolish  creature,"  said  the  General,  soothed  in  the 
depths  of  his  vanity  by  this  devotion. 

"  You  did  love  me,"  she  said,  with  a  wistful  look ;  "  you 
did  love  me  ?  " 

"Yes— yes." 

"  And,  it  is  all  over  ?  " 

He  looked  down  into  her  face.  "No  girl  of  sixteen,  in 
her  first  love  quarrel,  ever  wore  a  look  so  full  of  anxiety,  so 
tremulous  with  hope  and  doubt. 

"  Oh,  I  cannot  say  that,  Zillah.  There  is  something 
piquant,  even  picturesque,  about  you,  that  one  does  not 
readily  forget,  or  ever  dislike ;  besides,  real  earnest  love  is 
better  worth  having,  after  the  domestic  treason  which  I 
have  just  discovered." 

Again  the  woman's  eyes  blazed  forth  their  sudden  joy. 
She  arose  from  his  feet,  restless  and  eager. 

"  She  has  wronged  you — she  has  embittered  my  life.  I 
was  your  slave — let  her  become  so.  Then  shall  we  both 
have  vengeance ! " 

"  And  beggary  with  it,"  answered  the  General,  bitterly. 
"No,  no,  Zillah,  I  am  not  so  fond  of  vengeance  as  that; 
besides,  hers  is  only  a  sin  of  feeling,  and  she  seems  to  have 
suffered  for  it." 

The  woman  turned  white,  till  the  dusky  shadows  under 
her  eyes  seemed  black  by  contrast. 

"  A  sin  of  feeling ! "   she   almost  shrieked,  seizing  the 


32-4  Mabel's   Mistake. 

vellum  book,  and  turning  over  the  crushed  leaves  rapidly 
with  her  trembling  hands.  "  You  have  not  read  all.  You 
have  only  glanced  at  passages,  perhaps ! " 

"  And  they  have  been  sufficiently  unpleasant.  I  do  not 
care  to  search  farther  !  " 

Zillah  still  turned  over  the  leaves,  tearing  them  more  than 
once  in  her  rude  haste.  Her  fierce  eyes  glanced  from 
passage  to  passage.  At  length,  like  a  hawk  pouncing  upon 
its  prey,  she  opened  the  book  wide,  and  pressed  her  hand 
hard  upon  a  page  which  seemed  more  hastily  written  than 
the  rest,  for  it  was  blotted  and  broken  up,  evidently  full  of 
exclamations  and  bursts  of  passionate  thought. 

"  Head  that ! "  said  the  woman,  pressing  her  finger  upon 
the  page  till  the  blood  was  strained  back  to  the  wrist,  leav- 
ing the  hand  pallid  as  marble.  "  Read  that ! " 

The  General  took  up  the  journal,  and  read.  Again  that 
expression  of  white  rage  crept  over  his  face,  and  a  smile 
rose  up  to  his  mouth,  coiling  around  it  like  a  viper. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  hoarsely.  "  This  means  something.  It 
is  her  own  confession." 

"  It  is  enough  to  crush  her  forever  !  "  cried  the  woman. 

"  Yes,  yes,  that  society  may  laugh  at  me  as  a  dupe ;  ven- 
geance is  sweet,  but  I  cannot  afford  it.  To  assail  her, 
would  be  to  arm  him  against  me." 

"  And  you  will  submit  to  this  wrong  ?  "  cried  the  woman, 
while  her  eyes  flashed  fire  and  her  lips  writhed  in  scorn. 

"Submit,  no — my  fiery  Zillah;  but  the  richest  enjoy- 
ments of  life  should  b^e  tasted  daintily — a  noisy  revenge  ia 
not  to  my  taste." 

"  But  you  will  live  with  this  woman  yet  ?  " 

The  General  smiled  meaningly. 

"  She  will,  perhaps,  remain  under  my  roof." 

"  And  you  will  not'  take  away  the  name  she  has  dis- 
graced ?  "  persisted  Zillah,  pale  with  suspense. 

"  You  are  a  little  too  fast  there,  my  friend.     A  nanu 


MabeFs  Mistake.  325 

is  never  dishonored  by  anything  kept  secret  within  the 
bosom  of  a  family.  Disgrace  is  the  scorn  of  society,  and 
how  can  the  world  scorn  that  which  it  does  not  know  ?  " 

"But  it  shall  know.  I  will  myself  proclaim  this 
infamy !  "  cried  the  woman,  clenching  her  hand,  and  shaking 
from  head  to  foot  with  internal  rage. 

The  General  cast  on  her  a  look  half-surprised,  half- 
amused. 

"Ah,  Zillah,  and  who  on  earth  of  our  world  can  you 
know,  or — if  that  were  possible — what  would  your  word  be 
against  the  life  of  a  woman  so  universally  admired  and 
beloved,  as  my  wife  has  been  ?  " 

"  But,  I  will  prove  what  I  say  by  that  book." 

"  Which  is  just  now  in  my  possession,  where  it  is  likely 
to  remain.  Be  content,  beautiful  Zillah.  The  fate  of 
Mabel  Harrington  rests  with  me.  I  shall  not  trust  her  to 
your  jealous  rage." 

"  To  my  jealous  rage  ! "  repeated  Zillah,  hardening  down 
in  her  passion  till  she  seemed  turning  to  marble  from  a 
single  effort  of  will.  "  I  thought  of  your  honor,  not  of  my 
own  wrongs.  I  struggle  against  contempt  for  the  mau 
whom  I  have  so  long  and  so  miserably  loved." 

"  Contempt,  Zillah  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir,  contempt.  Even  your  slave  has  a  right  to 
despise  the  man  who  connives  at  his  own  dishonor." 

"  Woman,  are  you  mad ! — but  no  matter.  I  am  too 
weary  for  much  anger.  You  should  have  remembered  of 
old  that  I  hate  scenes.  This  has  been  gotten  up  with  too 
much  intensity.  I  am  tired  of  it." 

"  I  see,  I  see  ! "  replied  the  woman,  resuming  her  slave- 
like  submission.  "  You  are  tired,  with  no  one  to  care  about 
it.  Let  me  serve  you  once  more." 

Zillah  went  to  a  marble  console  in  another  part  of  the 
room,  poured  out  a  glass  of  wine,  and,  sinking  gently  at  his 
feet,  presented  it  after  the  Oriental  fashion  which  he  had 
taught  her  years  before. 


S26  MabeFs  Mistake. 

He  took  the  wine  and  drank  it  off,  dropping  his  hand 
carelessly  upon  her  shoulder  as  he  returned  the  glass.  The 
woman  sat  gazing  into  his  face,  her  brow  knitted,  and  her 
eyes  full  of  thought. 

"  Then  you  shrink  from  a  public  exposure  in  this  mat- 
ter ? "  she  said  at  last,  bending  her  head  on  one  side  and 
touching  his  hand  with  her  lips,  which  fell  upon  it  cold  as 
ice,  so  deep  was  the  craft  and  §o  cruel  was  the  passion  that 
prompted  this  caress. 

"  I  shrink  from  purchasing  revenge  at  the  cost  of  every- 
thing that  renders  life  worth  having.  Once  for  all,  Zillah, 
to  quarrel  with  James  Harrington  is  to  give  up  all  that  I 
enjoy.  Of  my  wife's  fortune,  nothing  but  this  old  mansion, 
and  some  fragments  of  real  estate,  remain.  My  first  wife, 
as  you  know,  left  every  dollar  of  her  property  to  James,  else 
the  marriage  which  has  created  all  this  turmoil  would  never 
have  taken  place.  Up  to  this  hour,  the  young  man  has 
given  me  almost  the  entire  control  of  his  income.  Mrs. 
Harrington  has  no  idea  that  her  property  has  not  always 
supplied  our  income.  To  assail  them,  is  to  expose  my  own 
losses  at  the  gambling-table — both  while  I  was  her  guardian 
and  her  husband — I  only  wish  the  accursed  book  had  never 
reached  my  hands.  So  long  as  she  was  acknowledged  the 
most  correct  and  splendid  woman  in  society,  what  was  her 
heart  and  its  secrets  to  me  ?  I  tell  you,  I  am  tied  to  silence 
in  this  matter,  and  your  interference  can  but  annoy  me." 

"  Not  if  I  point  out  the  way  by  which  the  vengeance  you 
pant  for  may  enrich  yourself,"  said  the  woman,  arousing 
from  her  thoughtful  ness. 

u  Oh,  that  would  be  a  discovery,  indeed." 

"  James  Harrington  loves  the  lad}'." 

"  I  am  not  so  sure  of  that ;  but,  suppose  it  so,  what 
then  ?  " 

"  Legal  separations  are  easy  in  this  country.  Let  her  go 
to  one  of  those  States  where  incompatibility  of  temper, 


Mabel's  Mistake.  327 

absence,  or  caprice,  is  deemed  sufficient  reason  for  divorce. 
This  will  be  generous,  and  they  must  be  grateful  for  a  for- 
bearance that  she  has  no  right  to  expect.  Half  his  fortune 
— nay,  the  whole  of  it — will  be  little  to  ask  in  return." 

"  Woman,  has  a  fiend  or  angel  put  this  thought  into  your 
head?" 

"  Both ;  if  love  is  an  angel,  and  hate  a  fiend." 

"And,  what  can  you  expect  from  this  ?" 

"Nothing!" 

"  Nothing !    This  is  not  true,  Zillah  ! " 

"Is  it  hoping  much,  when  I  only  wish  to  be  a  slave 
again?" 

"  My  poor  Zillah ;  and  did  you,  indeed,  care  for  me  so 
much  ?  " 

The  woman  fell  down  upon  her  knees,  buried  her  face 
between  both  hands,  and  burst  into  a  passion  of  tears. 

The  General  was  annoyed ;  there  was  something  too 
much  like  a  scene  in  the  attitude  and  tears  of  his  former 
slave.  He  leaned  back  in  his  chair,  regarding  her  with  a 
glance  of  cynical  impatience.  She  caught  the  look,  as  her 
hands  fell  apart ;  and  the  hot  blood  that  rushed  over  her 
face  seemed  to  burn  up  her  tears;  She  broke  into  a  smile, 
and  arose,  sweeping  a  hand  across  her  eyes  fiercely,  as  if  to 
punish  them  for  weeping. 

"  There,  there,  I  will  go  now.  It  is  a  long  time  since  I 
have  been  so  foolish." 

General  Harrington  smiled ;  the  flush  of  her  face  and 
the  brilliant  mist  which  tears  had  left  in  her  eyes,  reminded 
him  of  past  years,  when  .he  had,  from  mere  wantonness, 
provoked  those  passionate  outbursts,  in  order  to  kindle  up 
the  beauty  of  her  face. 

"But  you  have  forgotten  to  say  how  you  obtained  en- 
trance into  my  private  apartments.  I  trust  no  one  saw  you 
come  in." 

"No  one  that  could  recognize  me.     I  became  too  well 


328  MabeTs   Mistake. 

acquainted  with  the  house  when  we  stopped  here  with  my 
old  mistress,  on  our  way  to  Europe,  for  any  need  of  a  door. 
The  balconies  are  too  near  the  ground  for  that." 

"And  how  long  had  you  been  waiting  in  my  bed- 
chamber, then  ?  "  continued  the  General,  pleased  with  the 
prompt  return  of  her  cheerfulness. 

"  All  the  time  that  you  were  reading.  I  only  sought  to 
look  on  you  again  from  a  distance,  and  would  have  escaped 
without  disturbing  you,  had  it  been  possible." 

The  General  smiled  complacently.  After  the  outrage 
suffered  by  his  self-love,  this  devotion  soothed  him  greatly. 

"  My  poor  Zillah  ! "  he  said,  with  a  sort  of  compassion 
*n  his  voice,  "  poor  Zillah  !  " 

She  did  not  answer  him,  and  when  he  turned  a  moment 
after  to  learn  the  cause,  her  place  was  empty.  Like  some 
gorgeous  wild  bird,  she  had  lighted  at  his  feet  a  moment, 
and  flown  away.  But  the  vellum-book  was  in  his  hands, 
and  her  wicked  counsel  lay  folded  close  among  the  evil 
things  in  his  heart. 


CHAPTER  LDL 

A   8TOKM   IN   THE  WOODS. 

AND  Lina  wandered  off,  deep,  deep  into  the  woods — her 
head  aching  with  overcharged  thought,  her  heart  lying 
wounded  and  cold  in  her  bosom.  Hour  after  hour  she 
toiled  on,  wild  with  the  pain  of  her  new  sorrow.  It  seemed 
to  her  that  intense  action  could  only  bring  rest.  Thus,  she* 
clambered  hill  after  hill,  drew  herself  up  the  steep  face  of 
many  a  rock  that,  at  another  time,  would  have  defied  her 
efforts,  and  waded,  knee-deep,  in  drifts  of  dead  leaves  that 
choked  up  the  hollows.  Sometimes  she  would  stop  suddenly, 


Mabets  Mistake.  329 

out  of  breath,  and  panting  with  the  fatigue  of  her  aimless 
exertions.  But  after  looking  wildly  about,  as  if  in  fear  of 
pursuit,  she  would  dart  off  again,  perhaps  retreading  the 
rough  path  she  had  left.  At  last,  she  sat  down,  exhausted, 
at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  and  looked  around  in  bitter  despair  as 
she  saw  the  woods  darken  overhead,  and  felt  a  soft  storm  of 
snow  flakes  floating  dreamily  over  her. 

The  poor  child  was  numb  and  cold.  Her  very  breath 
seemed  turning  to  ice  upon  her  lips.  But  for  the  little 
hound  that  crept  up  to  her  bosom,  and  lay  patiently  there, 
with  its  slender  head  laid  upon  her  shoulder,  and  its  limbs 
trembling  with  the  cold,  she  would  have  perished.  But  the 
warmth  from  this  little  animal's  body  kept  the  vitality  in 
her  poor  heart,  and  instead  of  death,  a  drowsiness  fell  upon 
her,  which  would  perhaps  have  ended  in  a  wakeless  sleep. 
But  just  as  she  was  sinking  away  into  that  deathly  torpor 
from  which  few  are  aroused,  a  female  figure  came,  floating 
like  a  dark  bird  of  prey,  through  the  storm,  now  obscured 
by  the  thick  interlacing  of  naked  branches,  and  again  dim- 
med in  her  approach  by  the  veil  of  virgin  snow-flakes  that 
filled  the  air. 

The  hound  lifted  its  slender  head,  gave  a  faint  whine 
and  lay  down  again  motionless,  but  with  his  vigilant  eyes 
on  the  shadowy  figure  that  approached.  That  pale  face 
was  evidently  known  to  the  dog,  or  he  would  not  have 
rested  there  so  peacefully,  though  it  moved  through  the 
falling  snow,  like  a  phantom  which  might  disappear  with 
the  slightest  sound. 

Close  to  the  prostrate  girl  it  came — that  sinister,  white 
face — and  the  figure  stooped  from  under  the  folds  of  its 
black  and  ample  cloak,  to  whisper  in  the  cold  ear  of  Lina 
French. 

"  Go  to  the  house  upon  the  hill-side.  There  your  mother 
is  waiting  for  you." 

Lina  struggled  like  one   aroused  from  the  thrall  of  a 


330  Mabers  Mistake. 

nightmare.  The  word  mother  had  broken  up  the  ice  at  her 
heart.  She  pushed  the  hound  from  her  bosom,  and  stag- 
gering to  her  feet,  looked  to  the  right  and  left.  No  one 
was  near.  The  pale  quiver  of  the  snow  flakes,  and  the 
naked  tree  boughs,  trembling  and  sighing  together,  was  all 
that  she  could  make  out.  But  the  word  mother  still 
sounded  in  her  ear,  and  the  sentence  uttered  to  her  sleep 
grew  trumpet-toned,  and  seemed  wailed  back  to  her  by  the 
storm. 

"  '  The  house  upon  the  hill-side  ! '  where  is  it  ?  "  she 
cried.  "  Which  way  shall  I  go  ?  Answer  me,  thou  voice 
of  the  storm  !  is  it  north  or  south,  to  the  right  or  left  ? 
Answer  me — or  if  I  am  indeed  mad,  be  silent  and  let  me 
die!" 

Then,  through  the  drifting  snow  flakes  that  settled  down 
heavier  and  heavier,  there  came  .a  voice  clear  and  musical, 
like  the  low  tones  of  a  flute,  half-singing,  half-speaking, 
which  might  have  been  the  disguise  of  some  voice  that 
feared  detection. 

"  To  the  southward — to  the  southward,  where  a  hearth 
gives  forth  its  white  smoke,  and  your  mother  awaits  her 
child." 

Then,  with  a  wild  laugh,  ending  in  sobs  that  wasted 
themselves  on  the  silence,  Lina  sprang  away  southward, 
always  with  the  storm  beating  in  her  face,  and  the  snow 
weltering  like  a  shroud  around  her  feet. 

Sometimes  she  would  pause  in  a  rift  of  the  hills  and  look 
wistfully  upon  the  bed  of  sere  leaves  and  feathery  snow, 
tempting  her  to  sink  down  and  die,  with  the  grim  hemlock 
boughs,  plumed  with  snow  wreaths  drooping  over  her,  and 
lulled  by  the  gurgle  of  unseen  waters  wandering  to  the 
river,  under  their  jewelled  network  of  ice,  but  she  resisted 
the  impulse,  and  still  bent  her  way  to  the  south,  while  the 
little  dog,  so  delicate  and  yet  so  faithful,  rushed  after  her 
without  a  whine,  as  if  he  knew,  gentle  creature,  that  a  cry 


MabeTs  Mistake.  831 

of  pain,  added  to  her  own  sorrow,  would  be  enough  to  smite 
away  all  her  insane  strength  and  leave  her  prostrate  upon 
the  white  earth. 

At  last  she  came  out  of  the  woods  upon  a  hill-side  cov- 
ered with  the  tangled  undergrowth  that  follows  a  fire  upon 
the  hills.  The  trunk  of  an  old  cedar  tree,  blackened  and 
charred  to  the  roots,  warned  her  of  a  close  approach  to  the- 
river,  and  in  the  distance  she  saw  a  wreath  of  dim  smoke 
curling  up  through  the  snow.  Leaving  the  cedar-tree  on 
her  right,  Lina  toiled  up  the  hill,  and  crossed  a  ravine  dark- 
ened with  great  white  pines  and  spruce  trees.  At  the 
bottom,  a  mountain  stream  broke  through  ten  thousand  fairy 
chains  of  ice,  and  melting  the  pearly  foam  of  the  snow  as  it 
fell,  sent  it  leaping  downward  in  a  torrent  that  seemed  half 
diamonds,  half  pearl  drifts,  under  which  the  pure  waters 
went  singing  softly  on  their  way  to  the  river. 

Lina  did  not  heed  the  gentle  warning  of  the  waters,  but 
sprang  forward  in  wild  haste.  Her  step  shattered  the  glit- 
tering ice  right  and  left,  and  the  cold  water  gushed  over 
her  feet  and  garments,  but  she  moved  on  without  pause, 
climbing  up  the  banks  of  the  stream  till  a  smooth  platform 
of  snow,  and  a  house  whose  windows  were  fitfully  revealed 
by  pale  gleams  of  light,  evidently  from  a  half  buried  fire, 
stood  before  her. 

She  drew  near  to  the  house,  standing  there  in  the  dark- 
ness, and  began  to  stagger,  for  now  the  unnatural  strength 
which  had  nerved  her,  gave  way.  The  icy  waters  of  the 
brook  froze  into  fetters,  around  her  ankles,  and  she  fell, 
without  a  sigh  or  moan,  with  her  face  toward  the  earth. 

The  poor  little  hound,  after  pulling  at  her  garments  with 
piteous  whines,  set  up  a  howl  that  rang  mournfully  over  the 
snow  waste  around.  Lina  did  not  move.  She  was  sensible, 
but  utterly  strengthless.  All  that  she  had  suffered  was  lost 
in  a  single  desire  to  be  still,  and  sleep  or  die. 

The  howl  of  her  poor,  shivering  companion,  so  sharp  and 


332  Makers   Mistake. 

plaintive  in  reality  came  to  her  ear  as  if  from  a  great  dis- 
tance, and  for  once  she  struggled  to  call  Fair  Star  by  name, 
and  tell  him  where  she  was,  but  her  lips  gave  forth  no 
sound,  and  when  the  dog  set  up  another  cry,  Lina  did  not 
hear  it. 


CHAPTER  LX. 

THE     DABK-HOUSB. 

IN  less  than  an  hour  after  Lina  French  fell  so  helplessly 
upon  the  snow  drifted  around  that  old  house,  the  storm 
swept  by,  and  forcing  the  leaden  clouds  aside,  came  the 
moon,  followed  by  ten  thousand  stars,  that  shone  calmly 
and  pure  in  the  frosty  atmosphere.  Directly,  bright  scin- 
tillations of  frost  arose  upon  the  white  waste  of  snow,  and 
the  whole  earth  seemed  crusted  with  diamond  dust.  The 
midnight  was  supremely  beautiful,  and  the  stillness  around 
that  old  house  had  something  that  seemed  holy  in  it,  but 
now  and  then  a  faint  howl  broke  over  the  glittering  hills, 
which  gave  warning  that  sorrow,  pain,  and,  perhaps,  death 
were  near. 

A  woman  coming  up  from  the  shore  heard  the  cry,  and 
stopped  to  listen.  She,  too,  was  weary  and  panting  from  a 
toilsome  struggle  with  the  storm.  But  a  cloak  of  soft 
Russian  sables  and  a  hood  of  crimson  silk  protected  her  as 
far  as  it  was  possible  from  the  weather.  Still  her  feet  sunk 
heavily  in  the  snow  at  each  step,  and  her  footprints  filled 
with  shadows  as  she  passed  on,  blackening  her  way  over 
the  universal  whiteness  that  covered  the  earth.  Thus  it 
had  always  been  in  her  life — that  woman  never  moved  with- 
out leaving  shadows  and  darkness  behind  her. 

She  came   forward,  guided  by  the   wail   of   Fair   Star, 


Mabel's  Mistake.  333 

tramping  down  the  snow  and  breathing  heavily,  from  her 
up-hill  toil. 

At  last  her  searching  eyes  detected  the  black  sleeve, 
which  fell  away  from  an  arm  flung  upward,  as  if  its  owner 
had  made  a  vain  effort  to  prevent  herself  falling.  And 
there  prone  upon  the  earth,  her  garments  frozen  stiff,  till 
they  rattled  to  the  touch,  and  covered  with  a  slight  sprink- 
ling of  snow,  which  had  fallen  off  in  waves  during  her 
struggles  to  rise,  the  woman  found  Lina  French. 

A  cold,  half-sneering  smile  at  the  easy  success  of  her  own 
schemes,  stole  over  the  woman's  face,  but  as  she  stooped  and 
touched  the  cold  hand  with  her  finger,  the  smile  gave  way 
to  a  look  of  affright,  and  bending  down,  she  raised  tho 
prostrate  girl  in  her  arms,  tearing  her  garments  up  from 
the  ice,  and  wrenching  open  a  little  gate,  before  which 
Lina  had  fallen,  bore  her  into  the  house. 

Fair  Star  followed,  shivering  and  whining,  with  a  piteous 
attempt  at  joy,  and,  after  a  moment,  both  the  mistress  and 
her  hound  lay  upon  a  mattress  the  woman  had  dragged 
from  the  next  room,  and  spread  upon  the  hearth-stone, 
which  a  bed  of  hot  ashes  had  kept  warm.  With  a  look  of 
wild  apprehension,  the  woman  whom  we  have  seen  in  her 
rooms  at  New  York,  and  later,  in  General  Harrington's 
library — proceeded  to  divest  the  cold  form  before  her  of  its 
frozen  garments. 

She  took  the  fur  mantle  from  her  shoulders,  and  folded  it 
over  the  insensible  girl ;  then  dragging  blankets  and  quilts 
from  the  next  room,  heaped  them  over  her,  burying  poor 
little  Fair  Star  up  with  his  mistress,  while  she  proceeded  to 
rake  open  the  fire  and  throw  armful  after  armful  of  dry 
wood  upon  it.  The  woman  was  evidently  well  prepared  for 
this  task  of  humanity,  for,  as  the  fire  blazed  up  and  went 
roaring  in  a  volume  of  flame  through  the  chimney,  she  be- 
gan to  chafe  the  small  hands  and  feet  buried  in  those  blank- 
ets, and  from  time  to  time  rubbed  the  pale  lips  with 
brandy. 


334  MabeTs  Mistake. 

It  was  long  before  llhe  half-perished  girl  began  to  feel  the 
warmth,  great  as  it  was.  The  woman  kept  on  her  labor 
patiently,  but  she  grew  paler  and  more  anxious  each  mo- 
ment, fearing  that  the  young  creature  was  really  dead.  At 
last,  the  little  hound,  revived  by  the  warmth,  crept  up  to 
the  pale  bosom  of  his  mistress,  and  began  to  lick  her  face. 
Either  the  animal  warmth  so  close  to  her  heart,  or  some 
more  powerful  impulse  of  nature  followed  this  act  with  a 
thrill  of  life.  Lina  did  not  open  her  eyes,  but  softly,  as  the 
limbs  move  in  a  dream,  her  arms  folded  themselves  over 
Fair  Star,  and  a  tear  stole  from  under  her  trembling  lashes, 
chasing  away  those  that  had  melted  on  her  cheeks. 

Zillah  regarded  her  with  a  look  of  profound  satisfaction. 
She  had  placed  a  cup  of  spiced  wine  on  the  hearth,  ready 
for  use,  and  with  her  soft  voice  and  caressing  touch,  now 
bent  over  the  girl. 

"Take  this,"  she  said,  holding  the  spicy  draught  to 
Lina's  lips.  "  Drink,  it  is  warm  and  invigorating — after 
that  you  can  sleep." 

Lina  opened  her  eyes  and  looked  dreamily  at  the  woman, 
but  her  hands  wandered  as  she  attempted  to  take  the  cup, 
and  she  had  no  power  to  lift  her  head. 

Zillah  put  her  arm  softly  beneath  the  drooping  head,  and 
raised  it  to  her  bosom.  Then  with  gentle  words  of  persua- 
sion she  lifted  the  cup,  and  Lina  drank  off  the  wine  with 
thirsty  eagerness.  Her  eyes  were  open  and  lifted  to  the 
strange  face  bending  over  her  with  a  glance,  half  wonder, 
half  content,  as  we  often  remark  in  an  infant  when  its 
hunger  is  satisfied,  and  it  lies  with  drops  of  milk  trembling 
like  pearls  upon  the  red  of  its  lips. 

"  My  child — my  child  ! "  whispered  Zillah,  pressing  her 
lips  down  upon  the  forehead  of  the  passive  young  creature, 
"my  child!"  As  the  kiss  touched  her  forehead,  Lina 
uttered  a  sharp  cry,  for,  with  that  keen  intuition,  which  is  a 
rare  and  sometimes  fatal  gift,  she  felt  the  moral  poison  of 


MabeCs   Mistake.  335 

that  kiss  in  all  her  veins,  and  began  to  struggle  in  the 
woman's  embrace,  but  without  the  power  to  cast  it  off. 

Zillah's  brow  blackened,  and  her  eyes  shot  forth  gleams 
of  anger,  but  the  hushing  tones  of  her  voice  were  Unbroken, 
and  she  made  a  gentle  effort  to  cradle  the  restless  head  once 
more  upon  her  bosom.  Lina  ceased  to  resist.  Some 
narcotic  had  evidently  been  mingled  with  her  drink,  for  the 
white  lids  fell  drowsily  over  her  eyes,  and  she  surrendered 
herself  more  and  more  helplessly  to  that  evil  embrace, 
dropping  at  last  into  a  heavy  slumber,  that  seemed  like 
death. 

The  woman  soon  wearied  of  her  position,  and  after  a 
little,  thrust  the  sleeping  girl  from  her  bosom  with  a  degree 
of  loathing  quite  equal  to  that  Lina  had  suffered  under  her 
first  kiss. 

"  There  is  no  danger  that  she  will  be  found  dead  on  my 
hands  now,"  she  muttered,  huddling  the  blankets  rudely 
over  the  prostrate  girl,  "let  her  sleep  while  I  take  a  little 
care  of  myself.  This  awful  night  has  almost  killed  me.  I 
wonder  the  girl  is  alive." 

The  woman  drew  a  chair  close  to  one  end  of  the  hearth 
after  preparing  a  fresh  cup  of  the  spiced  wine,  which  she 
sipped  with  thoughtful  slowness  while  her  eyes  were  fixed 
on  the  pale  face  at  her  feet. 

"  This  snow  has  proved  unfortunate,"  she  muttered.  "  I 
fear  that  no  carriage  will  be  able  to  cut  through  it,  and  in 
this  place  she  will  prove  very  troublesome.  Still,  Agnes 
may  be  trusted,  even  against  the  storm ;  the  girl  has  a 
spirit  that  will  conquer  anything,  when  her  passions  are 
concerned.  Heavens,  how  cold  it  is !  I  can  hear  the  snow 
crack,  the  frost  crusts  it  so  suddenly  over;  the  window- 
panes  seem  curtained  over  with  lace,  which  the  moonbeams 
are  turning  to  silver ;  it  is  a  bitter  cold  night.  I  fancy 
half  an  hour  more  would  have  settled  all  things  for  the 
young  lady.  How  she  sleeps;  but  there  is  unrest  about 
21 


Mabel's   Mistake. 

her  yet.  She  knits  her  brows  and  moans  in  her  dreams,  as 
if  some  enemy  were  near.  Oh,  ha  !  ha  !  my  pretty  hound, 
what  is  the  matter  now  ?  " 

Fair-Star  had  provoked  this  question  by  thrusting  hia 
head  out  from  under  the  blankets,  and  giving  a  low  bark, 
as  if  disturbed  by  something  that  he  disliked. 

"  Hush  !  "  said  the  woman,  sharply.  "  Hush,  sir ! "  and 
she  listened  keenly  for  the  noise  that  had  disturbed  him. 

It  was  a  quick  footstep  on  the  snow-crust — a  fluttering 
sound  near  the  window ;  and  then  the  keen  eyes  of  the 
woman  saw  a  hand  softly  brushing  away  the  frost  traceries 
on  the  window,  and  a  human  face  looking  through.  Zillah 
arose  with  an  eager  look,  and  opened  the  door. 

"  Agnes,  is  it  you  ?  " 

"  I  should  like  to  know  what  other  person  you  expect  ?  " 
said  the  girl  in  a  whisper. 

"  She  is  sound  asleep,  of  course ;  trust  you  for  that." 

"Yes,  yes,"  said  the  woman;  "but,  have  you  brought 
the  carriage  ?  Can  anything  penetrate  this  depth  of 
snow  ?  " 

"  Not  a  carriage,  certainly  ;  but  I  have  a  sleigh  and  two 
good  horses  outside.  It  will  be  a  hard  drag,  but  she  must 
be  out  of  his  reach  before  morning." 

"And  you  expect  me  to  go  out  again,  this  bitter  cold 
night  ?  "  said  the  woman,  shuddering.  "  I  would  rather 
run  some  risks  than  attempt  it." 

"  Nonsense,  nonsense ! "  exclaimed  the  young  woman, 
speaking  more  boldly  as  she  saw  the  deathly  nature  of 
Lina's  slumber.  "  The  whole  thing  must  be  arranged 
before  sunrise,  and  I  safe  at  home  again.  This  has  been  a 
terrible  night ;  I  almost  despaired  of  reaching  you  ! " 

"  And  who  comes  with  you  ?  " 

"  Your  own  people ;  no  one  else." 

"But  the  cold!" 

"  It  is  nothing,  with  cushions  and  plenty  of  buffalo  robes. 


MabeTs  Mistake.  337 

An  hour  will  take  you  safely  into  the  City.  I  must  be  let 
out  on  the  way,  and  get  home  on  foot.  Come,  are  you 
ready  ? " 

"  In  a  moment — in  a  moment !  "  answered  Zillah,  gather- 
ing up  her  furs,  and  putting  on  a  warm  hood.  "But,  how 
can  we  get  her  dressed  and  out  to  the  sleigh  ?  Her  clothes 
are  like  ice  ;  they  were  absolutely  frozen  down  ! " 

"  Here,  here ! "  cried  Agnes,  going  iuto  the  inner  room, 
and  coming  forth  with  some  dark  garments  across  her 
arms  ;  "fortunately,  I  left  these  things  at  home.  We  must 
get  them  on,  as  she  sleeps.  There  is  no  fear  of  waklfcg  her, 
I  suppose  ?  " 

"  No,  no !     Make  haste,  if  it  must  be  to-night ! " 

The  two  women  lifted  Lina  from  her  couch  upon  the 
floor ;  arranged  her  in  the  garments  that  Agnes  had 
selected ;  and,  wrapping  her  in  a  large  cloak,  bore  her 
between  them  out  to  a  sleigh  that  had  been  drawn  up  near 
the  house. 

The  driver  appeared  quite  prepared  for  the  singular 
appearance  of  a  girl  evidently  insensible,  for  he  flung  back 
the  fur  robes  without  any  appearance  of  curiosity ;  and, 
when  the  women  had  taken  their  places,  drove  away  as 
rapidly  as  the  drifted  snow  would  permit. 


CHAPTEE  LXL 

STRANGE    PLANS. 

WHEN  Lina  awoke,  she  was  alone  in  a  chamber  that 
seemed  both  unfamiliar  and  unpleasant,  though  sumptuous 
objects  met  her  on  every  side.  The  atmosphere  was  stifling, 
as  if  some  pastilles  had  just  been  burned  in  it,  and  a  heavy 
pain  in  the  head  flung  a  mistiness  all  around.  She  was  sur- 


338  MabeFs  Mistake. 

prised  to  find  herself  dressed  in  garments  strange  as  the 
room ;  but  the  heavy  aching  of  all  her  limbs,  and  the  glow 
of  coming  fever  in  her  cheek,  rendered  connected  thought 
impossible.  She  dropped  asleep  again,  but  only  to  be 
aroused  by  a  soft  tread  that  stole  through  her  room,  and  the 
breath  of  some  person  bending  downward,  which  made  her 
shudder,  as  if  it  had  been  the  poison  of  a  upas  tree  floating 
across  her  mouth. 

"  Are  you  better,  Lina  ?  are  you  awake  ?  " 

"  Who  speaks  ? "  cried  the  girl,  starting  wildly  up. 
"  Whe^l  am  I — and  who  calls  me  Lina  ?  " 

"  It  is  your  mother  who  speaks — it  is  her  house  that 
shelters  you." 

"  My  mother  ?  oh,  Father  of  Heaven  !  now  I  remember : 
take  me  hence — take  me  hence  ! " 

"My  child,"  said  the  woman  Zillah,  stepping  out  from 
the  curtains  that  had  half  concealed  her ;  "  let  me  look  into 
your  eyes,  and  see  if  they  dare  turn  in  scorn  or  rebukingly 
from  mine.  Sit  up,  girl,  and  let  me  read  your  face  !  " 

"  I  cannot,  I  cannot ;  my  head  reels — my  heart  aches 
with  a  pain  that  will  never  go  away ;  "  cried  the  poor  girl, 
bending  forward  and  striving  to  shut  out  the  woman's  face 
with  both  her  clasped  hands.  "  God  help  me ;  I  would 
rather  die  now  ! " 

The  woman  went  softly  up  to  that  excited  young  creature, 
and,  placing  one  hand  on  her  forehead,  pressed  her  gently 
back  upon  the  pillow  from  which  she  had  started  so  wildly. 

"  I  am  your  mother.     Look  at  me — I  am  your  mother  ! " 

Lina  lifted  her  feverish  eyes,  and  looked  in  that  face,  so 
repulsive  and  yet  so  beautiful,  with  a  strained,  wild  gaze, 
that  burned  with  a  brilliancy  more  terrible  than  fever. 

"  I  do  not  know  you  ! "  she  cried,  dashing  the  woman's 
hands  aside.  "  Let  me  rest — I  do  not  know  you !  " 

"  But,  I  am  your  mother." 

"  Well,  go  on  and  tell  the  whole   story ! "   cried   Lina, 


Mabets  Mistake.  339 

with  insane  vehemence.  "  I  know  who  my  father  is — he 
told  me  himself;  but  you,  madam — you  with  those  strange 
eyes,  and  that  proud  stoop  of  the  head,  how  came  you  to  be 
my  mother?  Don't  you  know  that  General  Harrington 
has  a  wife,  and  that  Ralph  is  her  son.  What  are  you,  then, 
and  what  am  I  ?  " 

"  I  was  General  Harrington's  slave,  and  you  are  my 
daughter.  You  need  not  look  at  me,  with  those  great  won- 
dering eyes.  I  would  have  broken  this  more  kindly,  but 
you  receive  me  as  if  I  were  your  slave — not  his-.  You 
reject  me — so  be  it ;  but  my  blood  is  in  your  veins,  and  my 
shame  on  your  forehead.  You  cannot  shake  it  off;  it  will 
cling  around  you  like  a  curse,  forever  and  ever.  Now  sleep 
if  you  can !  " 

A  shrill  cry  broke  from  the  poor  young  creature,  who  had 
fallen  forward  grovelling  in  the  bed.  She  struggled  to  get 
up,  but  her  limbs  were  numb,  and  refused  to  move.  She 
flung  her  clasped  hands  wildly  out,  and  the  prayer  that  she 
strove  to  utter  broke  forth  in  a  sound,  that  bore  with  it  the 
last  sane  thought  that  she  was  to  know  for  weeks. 


CHAPTER  LXII 

THE     TEMPTATION. 

"  GEN.  HARRINGTON-  wants  to  see  you  ! " 

A  new  chambermaid  had  been  introduced  into  Gen.  Har- 
rington's household,  and  it  was  this  woman  who  addressed 
James  Harrington  as  he  sat  in  the  remote  chamber  which 
had  fallen  to  his  lot  in  a  wing  of  the  family  mansion. 

Harrington  looked  up  as  the  mulatto  presented  herself, 
startled  by  the  southern  accent  and  appearance  of  the 
woman,  which  struck  him  disagreeably ;  when  she  moved 


340  Mabets  Mistake. 

away,  with  her  indolent  walk  and  indifferent  air,  he  watched 
her  with  a  sense  of  relief  of  which  he  was  himself  uncon- 
scious. 

"  The  General  am  in  his  own  room/'  she  mut  tered  in 
answer  to  his  question,  turning  back  as  she  spoke,  "  some- 
thing don't  seem  to  'gree  with  him  somehow  this  mornin', 
'pears  like  he  aint  right  well." 

The  unpleasant  impression  left  by  this  woman  passed  but 
partially  away ;  trifles  sometimes  affect  sensitive  characters 
with  a  feeling  of  unrest  long  after  the  cause  is  displaced 
from  the  memory;  disturbed  by  this  shadowy  feeling, 
James  arose  and  sought  General  Harrington's  room,  won- 
dering a  little  in  his  mind  what  the  business  might  be 
which  occasioned  this  unusual  request  for  an  interview. 
He  passed  the  mulatto  woman  in  one  of  the  passages,  who 
retreated  to  the  wall  and  stood  with  her  gaze  bent  on  the 
floor  as  he  passed,  but  the  moment  his  back  was  turned  the 
sleepy  lids  rose  suddenly  from  over  her  black  eyes  that 
flamed  out  with  evil  passions,  and  a  repulsive  smile  stirred 
her  mouth  till  it  worked  like  a  nest  of  reptiles.  Again 
an  unpleasant  sensation  crept  over  James  Harrington, 
and  he  hurried  forward  with  an  unconquerable  desire  to 
escape  her  presence. 

He  found  General  Harrington  alone,  surrounded  by  the 
luxurious  appointments  which  distinguished  his  apartments 
above  all  others  in  the  house ;  but  the  old  man  was  restless 
and  even  pallid,  as  if  some  unusual  moral  force  had  been 
necessary  to  urge  on  this  interview  with  a  man  against 
whom  he  meditated  a  temptation  so  atrocious. 

For  the  first  moment  these  two  men  stood  regarding  each 
other  in  silence.  General  Harrington  stood  up  at  his 
visitor's  approach,  but  all  his  self-possession  was  insufficient 
to  keep  his  limbs  from  trembling  and  the  color  from  fleeing 
his  face.  The  painful  compression'  of  his  lips  grew  more 
rigid,  and  a  cold  glitter  stole  into  his  eyes  as  they  met  the 
calm  questioning  gaze  fixed  upon  them. 


MabeFs  Mistake.  341 

"  You  desired  to  speak  with  me,  sir,"  said  James  Harring- 
ton at  length,  with  that  gentle  respect  which  had  become  a 
habit  of  self-control,  rather  than  a  genuine  impulse  of  rev- 
erence for  the  man  before  him. 

"  Yes,  sit  down,"  said  the  General,  with  a  cold  harshness 
of  tone  so  at  variance  with  his  usual  bland  insincerity,  that 
James  Harrington  looked  at  him  in  grave  surprise,  as  he 
drew  a  seat  toward  the  library  table.  For  a  moment  there 
was  profound  silence  between  the  two ;  then  the  General 
turned  stiffly  in  his  chair,  placed  one  hand  on  a  book  with 
broken  clasps  that  lay  before  him,  and  spoke.  There  was 
something  more  than  bitterness  in  his  voice  j  it  was  harsh 
with  poisonous  malice. 

"  Mr.  James  Harrington,  you  loved  my  wife  before  I 
married  her,"  he  said,  with  rude  abruptness,  that  made  his 
auditor  rise  from  his  chair,  pale  and  aghast. 

"  Sir,  sir  ! "  broke  from  his  white  lips. 

"  Before  and  since ;  before  and  since  !  Do  you  under- 
stand, sir,  your  hypocrisy  is  at  last  exposed?  I  say 
again  " 

"  Stop  !  "  said  James  Harrington,  lifting  his  hand  with 
authority,  though  it  shook  like  an  aspen.  "  Stop,  sir ;  you 
are  dealing  with  things  that  only  God  himself  has  power  to 
scrutinize.  For  my  acts,  sir,  you  have  a  right  to  arraign 
me ;  and  there  I  will  answer  you  with  the  frankness  of  a 
little  child,  for  as  childhood  they  are  innocent." 

James  Harrington  stood  upright  as  he  spoke,  with  one 
arm  folded  across  his  chest,  guarding  the  secret  which  that 
old  man  was  attempting  to  wrench  from  his  heart  with  such 
ruthless  cruelty. 

"  Innocent !  "  sneered  the  old  man  ;  "  innocent !  But  I 
do  not  blame  you,  sir !  Among  men  of  honor,  it  is  a  gen- 
tleman's duty  to  lie  broadly  and  boldly  where  a  lady's  rep- 
utation is  at  stake.  You  have  enough  of  the  Harrington 
blood  in  your  veins  to  deny  this  woman's  guilt  with  suffi- 


342  Mabefs  Mistake. 

cient  indignation ;  but  I,  sir,  am  not  mad  or  blind  enough 
to  believe  you." 

The  very  might  of  his  emotions  kept  James  Harrington 
still  as  he  listened  to  these  scathing  words.  He  sat  down 
very  quietly,  and  gazed  into  the  old  man's  face,  shocked 
to  the  soul,  yet  unable  to  comprehend  the  reality  of  a 
charge  so  atrocious. 

"  Will  you  explain  ?  "  he  faltered. 

"  I  have  explained  sufficiently,  sir !  You  loved  the  lady, 
and  she  " 

"Hush  !  sir;  say  what  you  will  of  me,  but  do  not  dare 
to  utter  Mabel  Harrington's  name  in  this  connection.  The 
angels  of  Heaven  are  not  more  blameless  than  that 
woman." 

"  Indeed ! "  sneered  the  old  man  again,  dashing  open  the 
book  before  him,  and  clenching  his  hand  fiercely  among  its 
leaves.  "  Bead,  sir,  read  !  " 

James  Harrington  reached  out  his  hands,  and  took  the 
volume  held  toward  him ;  it  had  been  opened  at  random, 
and  the  passage  that  met  his  eye  contained  a  pathetic 
appeal  to  Heaven  for  help  to  conquer  the  passion  which 
Mabel  confessed  to  herself  as  a  grievous  fault. 

The  blood  rushed  athwart  James  Harrington's  forehead 
as  he  read ;  for  through  the  mist  that  floated  over  his  eyes 
and  brain,  he  recognized  Mabel's  handwriting,  and  felt  how 
coarsely  her  unhappiness  was  being  revealed  to  his  own 
heart,  which  had  hardly  dared  to  suspect  it  before.  He 
was  bewildered  by  the  suddenness  with  which  this  subject 
had  been  forced  upon  him,  and  for  a  moment  sat  like  one 
fascinated,  gazing  in  pale  wonder  at  the  written  characters 
that  proved  how  much  he  had  been  beloved. 

"  Read  on  ! "  said  the  old  man.  "  It  is  a  book  which 
makes  research  pleasant.  Read  it  through,  sir,  and  then, 
if  you  can,  repeat  the  gentlemanly  lie  which  contradicts 
her  own  written  confession." 


Mabel's   Mistake.  343 

James  closed  the  book  reverently,  and  laid  it  down. 

"I  have  been  surprised  into  reading  a  few  words  that 
should  have  been  kept  sacred — it  was  not  my  fault,  I  was 
bewildered ;  but  no  power  on  earth  could  induce  me  to  open 
that  book  again,  though  I  am  very  certain  nothing  can  be 
found  in  it  which  an  angel  need  condemn ;  for,  if  an  hon- 
orable and  upright  woman  lives  on  earth,  it  is  the  lady  who 
bears  your  name." 

"  You  dare  not  read  the  proofs  of  her  dishonor,  and 
yours ! " 

"  I  deny  that  such  proofs  exist,  or  can  exist ! " 

General  Harrington  opened  the  book,  and  glanced  at  the 
passage  which  had  just  been  read. 

"  Even  here,  she  confesses  her  love ;  you  have  seen  it  in 
her  own  handwriting — the  whole  world  shall  see  not  only 
this  passage,  but  the  whole  book.  I  will  scatter  its  pages 
broadcast  over  the  country.  See,  then,  if  your  denial  will 
shield  her  from  universal  scorn." 

"  You  could  not  do  this  ! " 

"lean!" 

"  She  would  die  under  the  first  bitter  sneer." 

"  Let  her  die,  then !  The  woman  who  marries  a  Harring- 
ton, should  at  least  learn  not  to  commit  herself." 

James  Harrington  shrunk  back  in  his  seat,  appalled  by 
the  vision  of  humiliation  that  opened  itself  before  him. 
He  saw  Mabel's  name  bandied  from  lip  to  lip  with  pity  or 
sneers,  by  the  very  society  in  which  she  had  been  held  in  so 
much  honor.  He  saw  her  reputation,  so  spotless  now,  con- 
signed to  a  thousand  reckless  presses,  each  tearing  her 
secret  forth  with  its  cruel  iron  fingers,  crushing  it  into  some 
slanderous  shape  between  its  ponderous  cylinders,  and  hurl- 
ing it,  blackened  with  lies  and  coarse  jests,  scoffingly  to  the 
world. 

He  saw  the  effect  of  this  murderous  publicit}'  upon  Mabel 
herself,  when  it  should  recoil  back  to  her.  She,  so  gener- 


344  Mabels   Mistake. 

ous,  so  kindly,  and  yet  so  proud — how  would  she  endure 
this  outrage  upon  feelings  held  secret  almost  from  her 
prayers — feelings  struggled  against  and  forced  back  without 
a  word  of  utterance,  save  when  they  hroke  forth  in  the 
pages  of  a  journal  locked  so  vigilantly  from  all  eyes  but  her 
own  ;  that  luckless  journal  to  open  which  seemed  like  pil- 
laging her  proud  heart. 

Would  she  yield  art  once  to  the  extreme  delicacy  of  her 
nature,  and  shrinking  away  from  notice,  perish  under  this 
rude  publicity  ? — or,  struggling  against  it,  go  mad,  and  die 
like  an  eagle  striving  to  keep  its  wings  poised  on  high, 
though  pierced  with  a  thousand  arrows:  He  knew  that  she 
would  resist  to  the  last.  The  exquisite  sensitiveness  which 
rendered  her  so  unlike  ordinary  women,  was  matched  with 
a  strength  of  will  which  would  give  suffering  its  keenest 
power.  It  would  not  be  death — that  is  the  relief  of  weaker 
natures — but  relentless  life — life  full  of  those  torturing 
agonies  that  trample  every  upspringing  joy  from  the  heart. 
Compared  to  this  life,  poisoned  in  all  its  sources,  death 
would  be  a  sweet  dream  to  a  woman  like  Mabel.  The  in- 
tense vitality  of  her  own  nature,  would  be  its  torment. 

As  this  picture  rose  upon  his  brain,  James  Harrington 
shrouded  his  face,  silent  and  appalled.  His  strong  heart 
was  racked  to  the  centre — a  tortuous  strain  closed  in  upon 
his  nerves,  and  for  the  time,  that  stout,  brave  man  was  help- 
less as  a  child. 

"  You  love  this  woman  yet,  I  see." 

General  Harrington's  voice  had  resumed  its  usual  slow 
intonation.  The  first  anger  had  left  it  with  a  harsh,  cold 
attempt  at  composure ;  his  eyes  moved  from  object  to  object, 
and  his  soft  white  fingers  worked  nervously  with  the  tassel 
of  his  dressing-gown  :  if  at  any  moment  of  his  life  this  old 
man  could  have  been  awkward,  it  must  have  been  then,  for 
he  was  too  keen-sighted  not  to  feel  his  own  meanness,  but 
not  honest  enough  to  crush  it  beneath  his  feet. 


Mabets   Mistake.          f*|  345 

"  You  love  this  woman  yet  ?  " 

James  Harrington  dashed  the  hands  away  from  his  pale 
face,  and  sat  upright. 

"  Ask  me  that,  or  anything  else  that  appertains  only  to 
my  own  feelings,  and  I  will  answer.  I  did  love  the  woman 
you  married  with  every  power  of  my  soul ! " 

"  And  now  ?  " 

"  Now,  sir,  and  from  the  day  she  took  your  name,  she 
has  been  sacred  to  my  thoughts,  as  an  angel  in  Heaven." 

General  Harrington  smiled  incredulously. 

"  I  have  answered  the  simple  truth,  sir,"  said  James,  in 
reply  to  the  smile. 

Instead  of  being  pleased  with  the  honest  simplicity  of 
this  answer,  the  old  man  looked  disappointed ;  his  brow 
clouded,  and  his  eye  fell. 

"You  would  gladly  have  married  her  at  the  time, 
though?" 

James  again  shrouded  his  eyes.  These  qtiestions  were 
so  coldly  put — so  rudely  forced  upon  him,  that  he  could 
only  answer  by  an  inward  shudder  of  repulsion. 

"  You  are  not  a  man  to  change  in  anything,"  continued 
the  General.  "  You  loved  the  woman  once — I  knew  it  at 
the  time." 

"  Knew  it,  and  yet  married  her ! "  cried  James,  with 
bitterness. 

"  You  seemed  to  be  playing  a  dog  in  the  manger  part — 
this  might  do  for  young  fellows  who  were  too  timid  for 
speech,  or  too  certain  for  doubt.  The  lady  was  young, 
beautiful,  rich,  and  appeared  to  give  me  the  preference. 
You  did  not  speak.  I  did ;  that  is  all." 

"  I  was  not  selfishly  silent,  sir.  Before  my  mother's  un- 
happy death,  I  was  dependent  entirely  on  her  bounty,  and 
that  you  controlled.  Mabel  was  an  heiress.  I  was  not 
mercenary,  and  hesitated  to  appear  so.  My  mother  loved 
her.  She  was  very  young,  and  your  ward.  It  would  have 


346  Mabefs   Mistake. 

seemed  like  taking  an  unfair  advantage  of  her  inexperience, 
had  I  used  my  mother's  hospitality  as  a  means  of  reaching 
her  favor.  After  that  came  a  more  painful  reason  for 
silence." 

"  And  what  was  that,  sir  ? "  demanded  the  General, 
sharply. 

"  I  learned  that  her  fortune  had  disappeared  ;  that,  large 
as  it  was,  her  guardian,  unable  to  control  more  than  the 
income  of  his  wife's  property,  had  staked  this  poor  orphan's 
wealth  at  the  gaming-table,  and  lost  it." 

General  Harrington  half  rose  from  his  chair,  and  sat 
down  again,  looking  at  James  in  pale  astonishment. 

"  To  have  declared  my  love  under  circumstances  so  dis- 
graceful to  my  family,  would  have  been  to  expose  you,  sir, 
both  to  my  gentle  mother  and  to  the  world.  The  will 
which  gave  Mabel  her  wealth,  provided  that  a  full  settlement 
should  be  made  on  the  day  of  her  marriage.  I  had  not  the 
courage  to  hurry  on  an  event  that  would  brand  my  mother's 
husband  with  dishonor." 

Still  the  General  sat  mute  and  pale,  looking  steadfastly 
on  the  floor ;  he  seemed  for  a  time  unconscious  that  James 
had  ceased  to  speak,  but  at  last  raising  his  head  slowly,  he 
cast  a  look  that  was  almost  fiendish  on  the  younger  Har- 
rington. 

"  Go  on,  go  on  ! "  he  said,  hoarsely. 

"  I  will,  sir !  Heaven  knows  it  was  my  wish  to  bury 
this  secret  forever,  but  you  force  me  to  speak.  My  poor 
mother's  sickness  added  new  pain  to  my  unhappy  situation ; 
she  died  " 

"  And  left  me  a  beggar — you  a  rich  man !  "  said  the 
General,  hoarsely.  "  I  have  not  forgotten  it !  " 

"  Then,"  continued  James,  "I  was  free  to  marry  the  lady 
on  equal  terms — free  to  replace  her  fortune  from  my  own 
inheritance,  and  keep  your  secret  still  from  her  knowledge 
—but  it  was  no  time  for  selfish  affection,  just  as  my  angel 

I 


Mabets  Mistake.  347 

mother  was  laid  in  a  foreign  grave.  It  required  time 
before  I  could  control  so  large  a  portion  of  the  property  that 
had  been  hers.  I  left  you  in  Spain,  sad,  but  hopeful,  a  few 
months  would  have  brought  me  back  prepared  to  save  your 
honor  and  my  own  happiness.  You  know  the  rest ! " 


CHAPTEE   LXIII. 
JAMES  HARRINGTON'S  GREAT  STRUGGLE. 

GENERAL  HARRINGTON  arose,  slowly,  for  his  limbs 
trembled  with  intense  rage,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that 
he  stood  up. 

"  We  know  each  other ! "  he  said,  shaking  his  finger  at 
the  younger  Harrington,  and  drawing  closer  and  closer,  till 
it  almost  touched  his  face.  "  You  have  been  the  traitor  in 
my  household — plundered  my  closest  secrets — alienated  my 
wife ;  talk  of  dishonor,  sir,  what  was  mine  compared  to 
yours  ?  " 

But  James  Harrington  had  regained  all  his  strength, 
and  stood  up  firmly  before  the  infuriated  old  man. 

"  I  have  said  before,  that  from  the  hour  this  lady  became 
your  wife,  the  place  of  my  sainted  mother  enshrined  her. 
As  I  would  have  studied  that  mother's  happiness,  I  gave 
myself  and  all  that  I  possessed  to  her  welfare  and  yours. 
My  own  tastes  were  simple,  aaid  I  had  no  hopes.  The 
larger  portion  of  my  income,  you  have  always  controlled." 

"  And  always  will  command,  or  this  woman's  name  shall 
become  a  by-word  from  Maine  to  Georgia  !  "  exclaimed  the 
General,  resuming  some  control  over  his  rage.  "  We  com- 
prehend each  other  now,  and  can  talk  plainly.  You  have 
learned  some  of  my  secrets,  and  shall  know  more.  I  have 
other  debts  of  honor,  and  no  ward's  fortune  to  pay  them 


348  Mabels  Mistake. 

with :  her  reputation  or  mine  is  at  stake — one  must  save 
the  other." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,  sir." 

"  You  can  very  well  comprehend  that  the  contents  of  this 
precious  book,  will  render  anything  like  affection  for  Mrs. 
Harrington  impossible  to  me.  Indeed,  the  unhappy  posi- 
tion in  which  your  mother's  death  left  me,  not  only  penni- 
less, but  frightfully  involved,  enforced  this  second  marriage. 
I  can  afford  to  forgive  an  outrage  on  affections  that  never 
existed.  So  while  the  lady's  faithlessness  does  not  affect 
my  interests  or  my  honor,  I  can  endure  it  with  self- 
complacency." 

"  I  am  shocked — astonished,  sir,  to  hear  you  speak  in 
this  way !  "  said  James,  indignantly. 

The  old  man  smiled. 

"  You  are  a  dreamer,  sir,  which  I  am  not.  Scenes  and 
excitements  are  my  abhorrence ;  we  hold  unpleasant 
relations  toward  each  other.  You  are  my  step-sou.  The 
only  child  of  my  very  distant  cousin,  a  Harrington  like 
myself,  to  whom,  but  for  your  birth,  I  was  the  direct  heir. 
The  property,  a  vast  one,  which  might  have  been  justly  di- 
vided, fell  to  his  widow,  your  mother,  by  will.  I  married 
the  lady,  thus,  as  any  sensible  man  would  have  supposed, 
ensuring  the  inheritance  which  should  have  been  mine,  and 
which  undoubtedly  would  have  been  mine,  but  the  lady 
took  it  into  her  head  to  get  jealous  one  fine  day  " 

"  Stop,  sir  !  "  said  James  Harrington.  "  I  guessed  too 
well  the  cause  of  her  death — the  bitter  sorrow  which 
haunted  my  mother  to  her  grave.  She  died  a  broken- 
hearted woman;  do  not  take  her  name  irreverently  into 
your  lips,  or  I  shall  forget  myself." 

"  You  are  forgetting  yourself,  sir  !  "  answered  the  Gen- 
eral, waving  his  hand  with  gentle  deprecation.  "This  is 
neither  time  nor  place  for  heroics.  I  did  but  attempt  to 
impress  you  with  the.  fact,  that  your  mother's  unjust  will 


Mabets   Mistake.  349 

had  caused  all  this  domestic  turmoil.  You  took  the  prop- 
erty from  me — I  won  the  lady  from  you.  Let  us  look  upon 
the  thing  like  sensible  men,  and  make  restitution." 

"  Restitution,  sir !     Restitution  of  a  wasted  life  !  " 

"  Do  be  composed — I  am  tired  of  storms.  You  love  the 
lady — I  do  not.  I  want  money — you  care  nothing  for  it." 

"  Well,  sir,  well  ?  " 

"Really,  it  is  difficult  coming  to  the  point,  while  you  look 
so  excited ;  but,  if  you  will  listen  tranquilly,  all  this  may 
be  settled." 

James  sat  down,  with  one  hand  pressed  to  his  forehead. 

"  Go  on,  sir.     I  am  listening." 

"  It  is  but  just,  as  I  said  before,  that  you  disburse  the 
bulk  of  a  property  which  originally  came  from  the  Harring- 
ton family.  Give  me  a  deed,  conveying  two-thirds  of  that 
property  to  my  unrestricted  control  during  life — I  have  no 
ambition  to  make  wills — and  the  secrets  of  this  book  are 
safe.  The  west  is  broad,  and  most  conveniently  accommo- 
dating when  marriage  ties  become  irksome.  Mabel  can 
take  that  direction  for  her  summer  travels,  while  I  remain 
here.  In  three  months  the  fashionable  world  may  thank  us 
for  a  week's  gossip,  which  I  can  very  well  endure.  The 
world  is  large — there  is  California,  Australia,  or  Europe — 
her  second  marriage  in  any  of  these  countries  would  never 
be  heard  of." 

James  Harrington  started  up,  shaking  from  head  to  foot ; 
and  so  white,  that  the  General  half-rose,  tempted  to  flee  his 
presence. 

"  Tempter,  hoary-headed  fiend,  how  dare  you !  "  broke 
from  his  white  lips. 

The  old  man  faltered  a  little  as  he  went  on,  and  an 
anxious  restlessness  of  the  eye  betrayed  more  emotion  than 
he  cared  to  make  apparent. 

"  I  neither  tempt  nor  persuade.  We  have  done  each 
other  great  injury ;  this  lady  has  been  the  cause,  and  in 


350  Makers  Mistake. 

some  sort  the  victim.  After  reading  that  book,  it  is  im- 
possible for  this  household  to  contain  us  all.  I  will  not 
submit  to  be  turned  out  a  beggar,  nor  to  live  an  hour 
longer  on  your  munificence.  The  plan  I  offer  is  the  only 
one  that  can  be  peaceably  acted  upon." 

"And  the  lady," Mrs.  Harrington,  does  she  know  this?" 

"Not  a  syllable.  I  have  no  fancy  for  hysterics,  protesta- 
tions, or  fainting  fits.  The  role  of  an  injured  husband,  is 
not  to  my  taste ;  and  I  should  prefer  that  she  base  her  com- 
plaints on  my  indifference,  abandonment,  infidelity,  or 
whatever  faults  of  that  nature  she  pleases.  I  will  take  a 
trip  to  Paris,  if  that  promises  to  facilitate  matters." 

"  And,  if  I  refuse  ?  " 

"  Then  the  lady  shall  be  quietly  waited  upon  by  my  law- 
yer, and  invited  to  leave  my  house.  This  book  will  not 
only  be  placed  in  evidence  against  her,  but  every  line  it 
contains  shall  be  duplicated  by  thousands,  and  spread  far 
and  wide." 

"  Give  me  time — give  me  air.  I  cannot  think  or 
breathe  !  "  answered  James,  struggling  with  himself  amid  a 
whirl  of  contending  feelings,  like  a  drowning  man  en- 
gulphed  by  a  flood.  "A  few  minutes,  and  I  will  speak 
again." 

He  arose,  and  walked  unsteadily  towards  the  library  win- 
dow, threw  it  open,  and  stepped  out  upon  the  balcony. 
There  he  strove  to  look  the  difficulty  before  him  in  the  face 
• — to  meet  the  terrible  temptation  with  courage.  He  dared 
not  turn  his  thoughts,  even  for  a  moment,  toward  the  pos- 
sibility of  the  proposed  divorce,  but  crushed  it  back  reso- 
lutely, as  if  it  had  been  a  serpent  attempting  to  charm  his 
soul  away.  If  a  glow  of  delight  had  touched  his  heart  with 
the  first  certainty  of  Mabel's  love,  it  was  gone  now, 
quenched  by  a  consciousness  of  the  terrible  dangers  that 
were  closing  around  her. 

It  was  a  bitter  cold  morning ;  all  around  him  the  earth 


Mabets  Mistake.  351 

lay  sheeted  with  deep  snow.  The  river  was  frozen  over 
from  shore  to  shore.  Not  a  green  thing  was  near,  save  the 
spruces  and  pines  upon  the  shrouded  lawn,  and  they  drooped 
and  moaned  under  a  hurden  of  cold  whiteness,  which  the 
wind  might  disturb  but  fail  to  sweep  away.  The  balcony 
was  littered  with  slender  icicles  which  had  fallen  from  the 
gables  above,  and  flashed  out  like  shattered  jewels  from  his 
impetuous  footsteps  as  he  trod  them  down,  walking  to  and 
fro  in  the  wild  excitement  that  seized  upon  him.  At  an- 
other time  he  must  have  shuddered  beneath  the  sharp  wind 
that  filled  his  hair  and  clothes  with  frost.  But  now,  the 
fever  in  his  blood  burned  too  hotly  not  to  feel  the  biting 
cold  as  a  relief. 

He  leaned  against  a  pillar  of  the  balcony,  shocked  to  the 
soul,  and  yet  so  indignant  that  the  frozen  particles  that 
filled  the  air,  flashed  athwart  his  eyes  like  sparks  of  fire. 
The  hand  with  which  he  strove  to  force  back  the  painful 
rush  of  thought  from  his  forehead,  fell  upon  it  like  ice,  but 
in  a  moment  that  too  was  burning.  He  tore  off  his  cravat, 
and  in  vain  exposed  his  bosom  to  the  frost.  He  gathered 
handfuls  of  snow  from  where  it  had  lodged  in  ridges  on  the 
stone  balustrade,  and  pressed  them  to  his  forehead,  hoping 
thus  to  slake  the  fever  of  his  wild  thoughts.  A  little  time, 
and  this  fierce  struggle  must  have  killed  him ;  for,  not  to 
have  found  some  means  of  saving  Mabel  Harrington  from 
*he  dangers  that  encompassed  her,  would  have  been  a 
thousand  deaths  to  him.  Oh  !  how  his  bad  angel  toiled 
and  struggled  to  fix  that  divorce  upon  his  mind,  as  the  best 
and  only  means  of  saving  her.  But  the  heart  that  swelled 
so  tumultuously  in  his  bosom,  was  honest  and  unselfish. 
He  took  hold  of  the  temptation,  firmly  wrestled  with,  and 
hurled  it  aside,  facing  the  right  with  heroic  courage. 

At  last,  his  restless  footsteps  ceased ;  some  new  idea  con- 
tracted his  features,  sweeping  all  the  fire  away.  Slowly 
and  steadily,  like  the  beams  of  a  star,  thought  followed 
22 


352  MabeTs   Mistake. 

thought,  till  his  face  grew  luminous  with  generous  resolu- 
tion. The  red  fever  had  burned  itself  out  on  his  forehead, 
leaving  it  pale  and  calm,  while  across  his  lips  stole  an  ex- 
pression so  much  more  beautiful  than  a  smile,  that  I  cannot 
impress  it  upon  the  reader. 


CHAPTER  LXIY. 

THE  LIFE   DEED. 

JAMES  HARRINGTON  turned  from  the  balcony,  and 
entered  the  open  window,  composed  and  firm,  but  paler 
than  before  he  went  out. 

General  Harrington  looked  sharply  up  as  James  came 
forward,  but  did  not  speak ;  there  was  a  force  and  dignity 
in  his  aspect  that  filled  even  that  worldly  old  man  with 
respect,  amounting  almost  to  awe.  They  sat  down  face  to 
face ;  James  leaning  heavily  against  the  table,  General 
Harrington  retreating  far  back  in  his  chair,  to  avoid  the 
firm  glance  of  those  eyes. 

"  There  is  another  way  of  settling  this  matter,"  he  said, 
plunging  at  once  into  the  depths  of  the  subject.  "  I  have 
wealth  which  you  desire.  To  obtain  it  you  will  sell  your 
revenge  on  a  helpless  woman  whose  hand  you  have  obtained, 
but  whose  love  you  have  never  sought.  Your  offer  is 
specious,  but  to  accept  it  would  be  wickedness  in  me, 
degradation  to  her.  I  know  well  that  she  would  die  rather 
than  escape  your  vengeance  on  such  terms.  I  reject  them 
utterly ! " 

"  It  is  well,"  said  the  old  man,  pale  and  trembling  in  his 
turn,  "  I  have  at  least  this  left ; "  and  gathering  up  Mabel's 
book,  he  seemed  preparing  to  go  out. 

"But,"   said   James  Harrington,  still  with  great   self- 


MabeVs  Mistake.  353 

possession,  "  I  am  ready  to  purchase  the  tranquillity  of 
your  wife  on  other  terms.  Give  me  that  book — pledge  your 
solemn  word  of  honor  that  its  contents  shall  never  he  men- 
tioned again  to  mortal  being — leave  Mabel  Harrington  in 
the  entire  enjoyment  of  her  home  and  station,  exactly  as 
she  has  received  them  during  her  married  life,  and  I  will 
at  once  give  you  entire  control  of  my  income  during  your 
natural  life,  only  reserving  for  myself  enough  for  a  bare 
subsistence.  I  will  leave  this  house  to-morrow.  Hence- 
forth, I  will  hold  no  communication  with  you  or  your 
family.  As  you  said,  the  world  is  broad — any  place  will 
answer  for  one  who  has  no  hopes." 

The  old  man  was  so  taken  by  surprise  that  he  could  not 
answer,  but  sat  searching  the  face  before  him  with  eager 
scrutiny. 

"  And  you  will  do  this  ?  " 

"I  will." 

"Without  entering  into  explanation  with  her,  or  any  one 
else?" 

"  Explanations  are  impossible.  The  family  will  under- 
stand that  I  am  suddenly  called  away  j  after  that,  any  pro- 
longed absence  can  be  accounted  for.  But  remember,  sir, 
this  lady's  tranquillity  must  be  assured  bej'ond  a  chance  of 
revocation ;  on  that  rests  the  validity  of  any  deed  I  shall 
draw.  The  day  and  hour  in  which  her  position  is  in  the 
slightest  degree  impaired,  no  matter  from  what  cau.se,  and 
I  return,  though  it  were  from  the  uttermost  ends  of  the 
earth,  to  resume  my  own  and  protect  her." 

"  Have  no  fear,"  answered  the  general,  with  an  impatient 
wave  of  the  hand.  "  The  shelter  of  my  roof,  and  the  pro- 
tection of  my  name,  will  ensure  all ;  these  I  promise  never 
to  withdraw." 

"And  that  book?" 

"  Shall  be  kept  secret  as  the  grave  ! " 

"  It  must  be  burned  before  I  leave  the  room  1 " 


354  Motets   Mistake. 

The  old  man  was  about  to  hesitate,  and  demand  the  life- 
deed  before  he  surrendered  Mabel's  journal;  but  there  was 
a  stern  dignity  in  his  step-son  that  checked  the  mean 
impulse.  He  knew  well  that  no  bond  would  be  held  more 
r,acred  than  that  man's  word.  James  read  the  thought 
with  a  smile  of  contempt,  and  turned  to  leave  the  room. 

"  In  half  an  hour  I  will  return  with  the  deed  ;  keep  the 
book  till  then ! " 

"  No,  no,  it  is  here  ! "  cried  the  General,  flushing  with 
shame. 

But  Harrington  had  gone,  leaving  him  in  a  state  of 
humiliation  which  no  self-complacency  could  soften  or  con- 
ceal. After  he  had  been  left  a  little  time,  the  old  man 
went  out  upon  the  balcony,  for  a  brilliant  fire  made  the 
heat  oppressive,  cold  as  the  day  was ;  and  there  was  a  sensa- 
tion of  shame  at  his  heart,  that  made  his  breath  come 
heavily. 

He  was  gone  scarcely  more  than  a  minute,  but  that  was 
long  enough  for  the  mulatto  chambermaid  to  steal  out  from 
the  bed-chamber,  tear  half  a  dozen  pages  from  Mabel's 
journal,  and  creep  back  again,  grasping  the  crushed  paper 
in  her  hand  as  she  glided  through  the  door  which  opened 
behind  the  curtains  of  General  Harrington's  bed.  The 
drapery  was  yet  rustling  from  her  sudden  retreat,  when  the 
old  gentleman  returned  to  the  library.  He  found  the  book 
as  he  had  left  it,  and  sat  down  with  something  of  triumph 
but  more  of  self-contempt,  to  await  the  return  of  his  step- 
son. 

Directly,  James  came  back  with  the  deed  in  his  hand. 
The  General  took  it,  read  it  carefully  section  by  section, 
folded  it  with  studied  deliberation ;  and  taking  up  the 
journal,  placed  it  in  Harrington's  hand  with  a  forced  smile 
and  a  scarcely  perceptible  bow. 

As  the  book  touched  his  hands,  James  Harrington 
grasped  it  with  violence ;  a  trembling  fit  seized  upon  him, 


Mabets   Mistake.  355 

and  he  shook  like  an  aspen  tree  while  carrying  it  to  the  fire. 
Opening  the  covers  wide,  he  laid  the  fluttering  pages  down 
upon  the  flames,  which  darted  through  them  like  a  nest  of 
fiery  vipers,  and  in  an  instant  devoured  poor  Mabel  Harring- 
ton's secret,  over  which  the  vellum  covers  writhed  and 
curled  like  living  things  given  up  to  torture. 

Till  the  last  fragment  was  consumed,  James  Harrington, 
stood  looking  on,  with  the  light  falling  upon  his  pale  face, 
which  revealed  a  depth  of  mournful  tenderness  that 
touched  even  that  selfish  old  man  with  reverence.  It 
seemed  as  if  Mahel's  heart  had  been  given  to  the  flames  by 
his  own  hands.  When  all  was  consumed  he  turned  away 
like  one  in  a  painful  dream,  and  without  speaking  a  word, 
left  the  room. 

Two  hours  after,  he  quitted  the  house. 


CHAPTEE  LXV. 

WHO   WAS   LIN  A   FRENCH? 

JAMES  HARRINGTON  and  Lina  left  the  same  roof  with- 
in a  few  hours  of  each  other,  without  warning  or  explana- 
tion. Was  it  strapge  that  Mabel  should  be  tortured  with 
wild  doubts,  or  that  her  son  should  believe  the  step-brother 
whom  he  had  looked  up  to  with  such  honest  devotion,  and 
the  girl  he  had  loved  so  truly,  domestic  conspirators  who 
had  been  deceiving  him  all  the  time  ? 

Poor  Ralph !  these  doubts  fell  with  cruel  force  on  his 
generous  natxire.  His  confidence  was  all  swept  away — the 
best  jewel  of  hia  life  had  fallen  off.  To  him,  love  had  no 
longer  the  holiness  of  truth.  Household  trust — faith  in 
human  goodness — all  was  disturbed.  He  was  wild  with 


356  MabeFs   Mistake. 

indignation,  torn  with  a  thousand  conflicting  feelings ; 
sometimes  heart-broken  with  grief — again,  reckless  and 
defiant ;  then  a  spirit  of  bitter  retaliation  seized  upon  him. 
What  was  Lina,  with  her  gentle  affections  and  pretty 
reserves,  that  he  should  waste  a  life  in  regrets  for  her, 
while  another,  ardent,  impassioned,  and  loving  him  madly, 
was  pining  to  death  for  the  affection  he  had  thrown  away 
so  lavishly  for  nothing?  What,  after  all,  M-as  there  to 
charm  more  in  one  woman  than  another  ?  Lina  was  false ; 
why  should  he  remain  faithful  ? 

These  were  wild,  rash  thoughts ;  but  Ralph  was  young, 
tortured  in  his  first  love,  and  tempted  by  an  artful,  impas- 
sioned woman,  whose  perverse  will  carried  the  strength  of 
fate  with  it. 

Still,  it  was  only  at  times  that  his  heart  rose  hotly 
against  its  old  nature.  There  was  more  of  scorn  and  rage, 
mingled  with  the  certainty  that  Agnes  Barker  loved  him, 
than  of  real  passion,  but  it  assuaged  the  humiliation  of 
Lina's  falsehood,  and  the  consciousness  of  her  attachment 
diverted  the  grief  that  would  otherwise  have  consumed  him. 
Though  maddened  by  all  these  conflicting  passions,  the 
young  man  had  sought  desperately  after  the  lost  girl  from 
the  moment  her  absence  was  discovered  on  the  morning 
after  the  storm,  but  she  seemed  to  have  disappeared  like  a 
shadow  from  the  earth ;  for  from  the  hour  when  she  left 
Ben  Benson's  boat-house,  not  a  trace  pf  her  movements 
could  be  found. 

For  the  third  time,  Ralph  went  down  to  the  boat-hous<5 
to  question  the  old  sailor,  whom  he  found  housed  up,  as  he 
called  it,  in  a  fit  of  sullen  grief,  which  it  required  some  tact 
to  break  in  upon. 

Ben  was  sitting  in  his  domicile  before  a  rousing  fire, 
which  he  now  and  then  stooped  to  feed  with  hickory  logs, 
till  the  whole  room  was  filled  with  A  warm  glow  of  light. 
So  many  additions  and  ornaments  had  been  added  to  the 


Mabel's  Mistake.  357 

boat-house,  that  it  took  the  appearance  of  a  ship's  cahin 
more  than  anything  else.  The  fire  revealed  a  trap-door  in 
the  centre  of  the  room,  which  answered  for  a  gangway, 
while  coils  of  rope,  carpenters'  tools,  cans  of  pitch,  and  bits 
of  iron,  all  in  their  place  and  ship-shape,  as  Ben  would 
have  said,  gave  both  a  busy  and  maritime  look  to  the  prem- 
ises. 

Everything  was  very  comfortable  in  the  boat-house,  but 
Ben  kept  piling  on  wood  and  raking  out  the  coals  with  an 
iron  bar,  as  if  the  heat  and  light  were  still  insufficient, 
when  in  fact  he  thought  nothing  of  either,  but  was  making 
desperate  efforts  to  work  off  the  anxieties  that  had  beset 
him  like  so  many  hounds,  ever  since  his  interview  with 
Lina. 

"  What  can  a  feller  do  now  ?  "  he  said,  looking  wistfully 
up  to  the  models  of  gun-boats,  brigs,  and  clippers,  that 
occupied  the  rude  shelves  and  brackets  on  the  wall,  as  if 
taking  counsel  from  them.  "  I  have  sarched  the  woods 
from  hill  to  hill,  and  nary  a  sign  of  her.  She  'caint  a  gone 
and  fell  through  the  ice,  for  it's  friz  two  feet  thick ;  and,  as 
for  running  away,  or  going  for  to  kill  herself,  it  wasn't  in 
the  gal  to  do  no  sich  thing.  Ben  Benson,  you  was  a  brute, 
beast,  and  two  or  three  sarpents  to  boot,  not  to  tell  the  gal 
all  she  wanted  to  know.  You  obstinate  old  wretch,  you've 
gone  and  done  it  now,  and  no  mistake.  It's  as  much  as  I 
can  do  to  keep  from  knocking  you  on  the  head  with  a  mar- 
linspike,  you  sneakin'  old  sea-dog  !  What  if  she  was  dead 
now,  friz  stiff  agin  a  tree,  or  a  lyin'  in  the  bottom  of  the 
river,  what  would  you  think  of  yourself,  I'd  like  to  know  ?  " 

Thus  half  in  muttered  breath,  half  in  thought,  Ben  gave 
forth  the  burden  of  his  anxieties,  till  at  last  self-reproachful 
beyond  endurance,  he  seized  a  fragment  of  pine  wood,  and 
opening  his  jack-knife  with  superfluous  energy,  began  to 
whittle,  as  if  his  life  depended  on  sharpening  the  stick  to  a 
point. 


358  MabeTs   Mistake. 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  crunching  sound  of  snow 
beneath  footsteps  that  came  in  haste  toward  the  boat-house. 
Ben  cut  a  deep  gash  into  the  wood,  and  sat  motionless,  with 
his  hand  on  the  knife,  listening. 

"  It's  too  heavy — she  never  trod  down  the  snow-crust  like 
that,  poor  bird  !  "  and,  resuming  his  work,  Ben  kicked  the 
shavings  he  had  made  into  the  fire,  and  flung  the  mutilated 
pine  after  them. 

"Is't  you,  mister  Ralph?"  said  Ben,  rising  as  the  dosr 
opened,  and  seating  himself  moodily  on  a  bench,  that  his 
guest  might  come  to  the  fire.  "  You  look  flustered, -and  out 
of  sorts,  but  this  isn't  no  place  to  get  ship-shape  in.  It's 
awful  lonesome  here,  sin'  that  night." 

"  Then,  you  have  heard  nothing  !  " 

"  No,  not  a  whisper.  That  fool,  Ben  Benson,  has  been 
sarching  and  sarching,  like  an  old  desarter  as  he  is,  but  it 
aint  no  sort  o'  good ;  the  gal  may  be  dead  for  what  he  cares 
— a  toasting  hisself  before  a  fire,  while  she — may  be  Mr. 
James  has  hearn  something." 

"  Mr.  James  Harrington  has  gone  also,"  answered  Ralph, 
bitterly.  "  It's  no  use  searching  further.  They  have  fled 
together.  James  Harrington,  the  man  whom  I  have  looked 
up  to  all  my  life,  the  saint,  the  angel ;  he  has  disappeared 
as  she  did.  They  cheated  me  from  the  beginning.  He  has 
taken  advantage  of  his  wealth,  and  she — what  chance  had 
a  poor  fellow  like  me  against  his  millions  ?  It  was  hardly 
worth  while  to  deceive  me  so  shameful!}'  though ;  but  craft 
is  natural  to  the  sex,  I  believe."  There  was  a  struggle 
between  grief  and  rage  in  the  young  man's  voice,  and 
while  his  eye  blazed  his  lips  began  to  quiver. 

Ben  slowly  stooped  forward,  and  resting  an  elbow  on 
each  knee,  touched  his  fore-fingers  thoughtfully  together, 
while  his  eyes,  clear  and  honest  as  those  of  a  Newfound- 
land dog,  were  bent  on  the  young  man's  face.  At  last  he 
burst  forth. 


Mabel's  Mistake.  359 

"Ralph  Harrington,  I  should  say,  that  next  to  that 
mule-headed  feller,  Ben  Benson,  as  isn't  worth  the  husks 
he  sleeps  on — you  was  the  consarnedest  fool  that  ever  sot 
hisself  up  with  an  opinion.  You  talk  agin  wimmen  afore 
the  moustachoes  are  black  on  your  upper  lip,  because  there's 
something  about  one  on  'em,  as  you  can't  make  out.  Then, 
there's  Mister  James,  a  man  as  that  ere  shark  Ben  Benson 
ain't  afeared  to  swear  by  through  thick  and  thin,  the  most 
gentlemanliest  Harrington  as  eve"r  drawd  breath,  you  set 
up  to  speak  again  him,  it's  enough  to  agrivate  a  British 
admiral." 

Ralph  had  scarcely  heeded  this  speech,  but  stood  with 
one  elbow  resting  upon  the  rude  shelf,  that  served  as  a 
mantelpiece,  sullen  and  thoughtful. 

"  I  was  in  hopes  you  would  tell  me  something.  Oh ! 
Ben,  it  seems  impossible  to  believe  that  fair,  young  creature 
so  false,"  he  said,  at  length  giving  way  to  the  feelings  that 
oppressed  him,  "what  faith  can  one  have  in  human  nature 
after  this  ?  " 

"  Mister  Ralph  Harrington,  you  ain't  no  sailor,  to  talk  in 
that  ere  way.  There's  many  a  stout  ship  as  goes  down  in 
a  storm,  with  its  timbers  sound  and  its  masts  standing. 
Then,  agin,  there's  others  as  give  themselves  up  to  the 
storm,  and  lead  off  hither  and  yon,  but  get  back  to  their 
reckoning,  and  do  good  sarvice  arter  all.  Wimmen  are 
like  ships — some  get  unrigged — some  founder — some  go 
agin  wind  and  weather,  right  in  the  teeth  of  the  world,  and 
soma  drift  like  poor  little  boats,  without  compass  or  rudder, 
but  yet,  the  generality  cast  anchor  in  deep,  clear  water  at 
last,  and  for  one  wreck,  thousands  and  thousands  come  in  with 
all  sails  set — only  Mister  Ralph,  remember  this.  The  craft 
that  ales  goes  steadily  and  safe,  cuts  a  still  wake  ;  but  your 
leaky  vessels  makes  any  amount  of  whirlpools  as  they  go 
down.  It's  only  boys,"  continued  Ben,  taking  the  tobacco 
i'".-'m  liis  I:K  u'.h,  and  casting  it  indignantly  into  the  fire  — 


360  Mabets   Mistake. 

"  It's  only  boys  as  knows  nothing,  and  men  as  knows  too 
much,  that  ever  speak  in  this  ere  wholesale  way  about 
whnmen.  Ralph,  you're  young,  that's  all." 

"  I  am  distracted,  Ben ;  Heaven  knows  how  gladly  I 
would  believe  her  blameless,  but  her  manner  changed 
toward  me  so  strangely,  she  was  evidently  premeditating 
this  abandonment;  but  that  she  should  go  off — and  with 
him,  of  all  men  upon  earth.  "  Oh  !  Ben,  what  man,  not  a 
fool,  could  persist  in  his  faith,  after  that." 

"  I  tell  you,  it  wasn't  that  as  driv  the  gal  away.  She 
wanted  to  know  something  as  I  wouldn't  tell  her.  Some- 
thing more'en  Ben  Benson  reckoned  on,  was  in  her  mind ; 
she  got  discouraged  because  he  wouldn't  tell  her." 

"If  I'd  told  her,  she'd  a  been  here  now."  Here  Ben 
covered  his  face  with  both  hands  and  cried  out,  "  God  for- 
give me  !  God  forgive  me  !  " 


CHAPTER  LXVI. 

THREATS    AND    PERSUASIONS. 

DIRECTLY  after  James  Harrington  left  the  General's 
room,  the  waiting-woman  Zillah  entered  cautiously,  and 
with  breathless  eagerness.  She  stood  some  moments  partly 
behind  the  General's  chair,  before  he  regarded  her.  When 
he  did  look  up,  a  faint  color  swept  over  his  face,  and  he 
made  a  gesture  of  annoyance. 

"  Yon  are  not  pleased  to  find  me  here  so  soon,"  she  said 
quickly,  for  impatience  had  for  the  moment  disturbed  the 
wonderful  self-control  with  which  her  interviews  with 
General  Harrington  were  invariably  conducted.  "Is  it  a 
sign  this  woman,  who  has  outraged  the  name  of  wife,  is  to 
triumph  over  me  always  ?  " 


Mabel's  Mistake.  361 

"  Zillah  ! "  answered  the  General,  angrily,  "  my  relations 
with  my  wife  are  beyond  your  interference." 

"  Your  wife  ! "  exclaimed  the  woman  with  a  fiendish 
sneer.  "  You  can  still  call  her  that !  " 

"  Zillah,  be  careful.  I  have  permitted  you  to  go  in  and 
out  of  my  house  in  this  surreptitious  fashion  unmolested, 
from  regard  to  old  attachments ;  but  you  shall  not  again 
interfere  in  my  family  arrangements.  The  charges  that 
you  have,  I  see  now,  been  the  means  of  making  against 
Mrs.  Harrington,  are  groundless.  I  will  not  have  a  word 
spoken — mark  me — against  that  excellent  lady." 

"  What !  "  said  the  woman  hoarsely ;  "  what  does  this 
mean  ?  " 

"  It  means,  Zillah,  that  I  am  perfectly  convinced  not 
only  of  Mrs.  Harrington's  rectitude,  but  of  her  entire 
attachment  to  myself.  As  for  Mr.  James  Harrington,  his 
conduct  has  been  unexceptionable — nay,  magnanimous. 
We  are  a  happy  and  united  family,  Zillah." 

"  A  happy  and  united  family ! "  almost  shrieked  the 
woman.  "  And  has  it  all  come  to  this — am  I  again  spurned, 
again  hurled  back  to  the  earth — Hagar  thrust  forth  to 
wander  forever  and  ever  with  her  child  in  the  broad  desert 
— the  world.  I  tell  you,  General  Harrington,  this  shall 
not  be ! " 

"  Shall  not — slave,  how  dare  you  ?  "  cried  the  old  man, 
rising  haughtily. 

"  Slave,  slave  !  Yes,  I  am  your  slave,  for  I  love  you,  my 
master,  love  you  with  a  madness  this  cold  white  lady  never 
dreamed  of.  Do  not  crush  me  beneath  this  woman's  feet — 
do  not.  For  years  and  years  I  have  lived  on  this  one  wish, 
to  be  your  slave  again.  She,  your  wife,  is  faithless,  false, 
cold  as  marble  ;  put  her  away — send  her  forth,  as  I  have 
been.  The  same  God  made  us  both,  and  should  punish  us 
both  alike.  I  have  been  tortured  long  enougfi ;  take  me 
home,  master,  take  me  home — a  servant,  a  slave,  anything ; 


362  MabeFs  Mistake. 

but  send  this  woman  from  beneath  your  roof.  Sht  has  had 
her  life,  I  have  a  right  to  mine  !  Give  it  to  me — give  it  to 
me  for  my  love's  sake,  for  our  child's  sake  ! " 

The  woman  fell  upon  her  knees  as  she  spoke ;  her  locked 
hands  were  uplifted,  and  wrung  madly  together — her  eyes 
were  full  of  wild,  passionate  tears.  She  looked,  indeed,  a 
Hagar  coming  back  from  the  desert,  where  she  had  left  her 
youth  buried. 

"  Master,  master,  send  her  away,  send  her  awaj7 ! "  she 
pleaded,  in  a  burst  of  pathetic  entreaty.  "  What  has  she 
been  to  you,  that  I  was  not  ?  She  is  the  mother  of  your 
child — so  am  I.  She  was  your  wife — I  was  your  slave. 
She  claimed  rights,  station,  wealth,  power,  and  returned 
nothing.  I  gave  my  soul,  my  being,  every  breath  of  my 
life,  every  pulse  in  my  heart,  and  claimed  only  bonds.  You 
fettered  her  with  flowers — me  with  iron.  I  loved  these 
chains,  for  they  bound  me  to  you — they  have  drawn  me  to 
your  feet  again.  I  will  not  give  way  to  that  woman  a 
second  time ! " 

The  old  man  had  been  growing  calm  amid  this  passionate 
appeal.  Strong  feeling  always  annoyed  him,  and  the 
woman  seemed  actuated  by  a  species  of  madness,  that  filled 
him  with  repulsion.  He  turned  from  her  with  a  look  of 
quiet  contempt. 

"  Why,  Zillah,  you  should  go  on  the  stage.  These  wild 
paroxysms,  half-pathetic,  half-demoniac,  tell  splendidly  with 
the  public :  a  little  dash  of  blasphemy  now,  and  you  are 
perfect.  The  best  society  would  run  wild  about  you — 
ladies,  most  of  all,  especially  if  they  knew  exactly  who  and 
what  you  were,  Zillah." 

The  woman  sprang  to  her  feet,  white  as  death ;  her  eyes 
closing,  her  lips  specked  with  foam.  She  attempted  to 
speak,  but  the  words  writhed  themselves  to  death  on  her 
lips  withoirt  a  sound. 

How   still   intense    rage  can    sometimes  appear!      The 


MabeTs   Mistake.  363 

woman  stood  mute  for  more  than  a  moment,  in  which 
General  Harrington  held  his  breath,  awed,  in  spite  of  him- 
self, by  a  force  of  passion  he  had  never  witnessed  before. 

"  Zillah,"  he  said  at  last,  half-terrified,  "  Zillah,  control 
yourself;  this  rage  will  injure  you.  Come,  come,  let  us  talk 
together  more  reasonably.  You  know  how  I  dislike  these 
wild  flights  of  temper,  and  how  little  good  they  can  effect. 
Take  that  hand  from  your  bosom,  girl ;  if  you  have  a 
poniard  there,  let  it  stay  sheathed.  I  do  not  fear  you,  at 
any  rate." 

"  You  need  not,"  said  the  woman,  in  a  hoarse  whisper. 
"  I  could  not  strike,  even  while  you  were  mocking  me." 

Her  hand  fell  slowly  downward  as  she" spoke,  leaving  the 
hilt  of  a  dagger  just  visible  under  her  dress. 

The  General  stepped  toward  her,  took  the  dagger  from 
her  bosom,  and  cast  it  Contemptuously  on  the  fire. 

"  Have  done  with  this  acting,  girl,  and  talk  like  a  sensi- 
ble woman,  if  you  have  really  anything  to  say." 

Zillah  smiled  scornfully,  as  he  had  done,  while  her  eyes 
followed  the  dagger  to  its  lodgment  in  the  fire. 

"  It  is  the  purpose,  not  the  instrument,  which  is  danger- 
ous," she  said,  with  pale  self-possession,  still  speaking  in 
hoarse  undertones  ;  "  and,  in  order  to  reach  that,  you  must 
clutch  here." 

Zillah  pressed  one  hand  hard  on  her  heart  as  she  spoke, 
and  the  old  man  could  see  that  concentrated  passion  shook 
her  from  head  to  foot,  still  as  she  seemed. 

"  Zillah,  this  passion  will  prevent  me  ever  seeing  you 
again.  I  am  no  boy,  to  be  terrified  into  concessions  ;  as  for 
violence,  attempt  it,  and  I  will  have  you  dealt  with  like  any 
other  house-breaker.  In  the  North  we  have  heavier  chains 
than  you  have  ever  worn.  You  will  find  that  the  slavery 
which  springs  from  crime,  is  a  reality  that  you  have  not  yet 
known.  No  more  threats,  then,  if  you  ever  hope  to  see  your 
master  again." 


364  MabeFs   Mistake. 

"I  was  wrong,"  said  the  woman,  standing  before  him 
with  the  downcast  look  learned  in  her  early  bondage.  "It 
was  wounded  love,  not  anger,  against  you,  my  master,  that 
tortured  me  into  this  rash  language.  I  came  to  tell  you  of 
L of  our  child  ;  she  is  very,  very  ill." 

"  What,  Lina  ?  poor  child,  no  wonder  she  is  heart-broken. 
Heaven  knows  I  would  have  kept  this  miserable  secret  from 
her,  but  for  Ralph !  Where  is  she  now  ?  " 

"  In  my  own  house,  raving  with  brain  fever !  " 

"  And  have  you  told  her  all  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  she,  too,  spurned  me — every  one  repulses  and 
scorns  me,  while  that  woman  " 

"  Hush  !  Zillah,*  you  are  getting  fierce  again,  and  that  I 
will  not  submit  to." 

"No,  no,  master,  it  was  grief  for  my  child,  not  anger," 
said  the  woman,  checking  herself.  "She  is  ill,  very  ill. 
The  doctor  thinks  she  must  die." 

"  Indeed,  I  am  grieved  to  hear  it.  Let  her  have  every 
care;  have  a  dozen  physicians,  if  it  is  needful.  Poor, child 
— poor  child  ! " 

"  You  love  her,  then,  this  daughter  of  a  slave  ? "  said 
Zillah,  with  a  fierce  gleam  in  her  eyes,  as  if  jealous  of  his 
very  love  for  her  own  child. 

"Love  her?  Why  she  has  always  been  a  pet  in  the 
house — a  beautiful,  sweet-tempered  creature,  whom  everyone 
loved.  I  think  she  is  even  dearer  to  me  than  Ealph  him- 
self," 

Again  the  woman  turned  white. 

"  And  you  love  her  so  much  ?  " 

"  Again,  Zillah :  you  are  hard  to  please  ;  but  take  good 
care  of  the  child — in  a  day  or  two  I  will  come  to  see  her  ! '' 

"  Indeed,  to  see  her — her  only." 

"  Have  done  with  this  paltry  childishness,  I  am  tired  of 
it !  "  answered  the  General,  with  authority.  "  This  comes 
of  allowing  you  a  foothold  here.  Remember  I  cannot 


MabeTs   Mistake.  365 

have  my  privacy  intruded  on  in  future  by  these  mysterious 
visits ;  they  will  become  known  to  the  family,  and  Mrs. 
Harrington  may  think  them  a  just  cause  of  complaint — a 
thing  above  all  Others  to  be  avoided.  I  tell  you,  Zillah, 
this  rash  passion,  which  at  your  age  should  be  controlled, 
inconveniences  me  very  much  ;  indeed,  as  a  man  of  honor, 
I  cannot  encourage  it  farther." 

Zillah's  lips  writhed,  as  if  she  were  repeating  over  his 
last  words  in  the  scorn  of  her  heart ;  but  she  stood  immov- 
able and  silent,  with  her  eyes  bent  on  the  floor. 

"  If  money  is  needed  for  you  or  Lina,  whose  future  I  will 
liberally  provide  for,  that  can  at  any  time  be  supplied  to  the 
extent  of  your  wishes." 

"  I  shall  not  need  your  money,"  answered  the  woman 
coldly. 

"  But  you  cannot  be  rich  ! " 

"  The  master  to  whom  you  sold  me  left  his  property  to  be 
divided  between  some  half  dozen  slaves,  who  received  their 
freedom  and  the  legacy  together.  I  am  spending  mine; 
when  it  is  gone,  I  can  work." 

"  Then  you  reject  all  help  from  me  ?  " 

"  I  was  your  slave,  General  Harrington — twice  bound, 
first  by  your  laws,  again  by  the  will  of  my  own  heart,  but 
I  am  no  beggar ;  even  when  you  loved  me,  I  worked  for  my 
own  bread." 

"  I  am  glad  that  you  are  so  well  provided  for :  now  let 
this  romance  come  to  an  end.  We  are  no  boy  and  girl, 
remember,  Zillah ;  and,  though  it  is  very  pleasant  to  feel 
that  one  heart  at  least  proves  faithful  to  the  end,  I  cannot, 
in  justice  to  Mrs.  Harrington,  admit  you  under  the  same 
roof  with  herself.  Her  peace  of  mind  is  important  to  me, 
very  important,  and  her  tranquillity  must  not  be  endan- 
gered by  these  wild  visits.  I  will  withdraw,  now,  and  give 
you  an  opportunity  to  leave  the  house ;  be  careful  that  no 
one  sees  you,  especially  Mrs.  Harrington.  Adieu !  In  two 


866    .  Mabets  Mistake. 

or  three  days,  at  most,  I  shall  be  able  to  see  you  and 
Liiia." 

The  old  gentleman  waved  his  hand,  in  token  of  a  friendly 
adieu,  as  he  went,  leaving  his  singular  visitor  standing  in 
the  middle  of  the  room,  so  numbed  in  feeling  or  lost  in 
thought,  that  she  seemed  unconscious  of  his  departure. 

It  was  more  than  a  minute  before  the  woman  lifted  her 
head  ;  then  her  face  was  pale,  and  a  deep  smouldering  pur- 
pose burned  like  fire  in  the  depths  of  her  eyes.  She  looked 
around  wildly,  as  if  searching  for  the  man  who  had  just 
left  the  room  ;  then  her  recollection  seemed  to  come  back, 
and  she  went  up  to  the  table,  examining  everything  upon 
it  with  eager  haste.  The  journal  was  no  longer  there,  but 
in  its  place  she  found  a  folded  paper  placed  in  a  small  port- 
folio, which  bore  the  General's  initials. 

The  paper  shook  in  her  hands  as  she  unfolded  it,  for  all 
her  former  agitation  had  come  back ;  and,  in  her  haste  to 
read,  the  fire  seemed  to  leap  from  her  black  eyes  over  the 
writing.  It  was  the  life-deed  which  had  just  passed  between 
General  Harrington  and  his  son-in-law. 

The  woman  laughed  as  she  folded  up  the  paper — a  laugh 
of  such  bitter  mockery  that  it  started  even  herself,  as  if 
some  other  person  had  been  reviling  her. 

"And  has  it  ended  in  this,  after  years  of  plotting  and 
privations  that  would  have  killed  a  common  person  ?  Have 
I  ended  in  binding  them  more  firmly  together.  This 
accounts  for  his  solicitude  for  her  welfare.  This  is  why 
these  visits  of  mine  trouble  him.  They  might  break  the 
compact  which  secures  repose  and  reputation  to  Mabel 
Harrington,  for  so  much  money — and  she  is  to  triumph  a 
second  time !  I  am  nothing — a  weed,  a  bit  of  miserable 
night-shade  that  has  poison  in  it,  and  nothing  more." 

As  she  muttered  over  these  thoughts,  more  and  more 
slowly,  the  woman  folded  her  arms,  and  stood  immovable 
for  several  minutes ;  her  brow  grew  dark  as  midnight,  and 


Mabtts  Mistake.  367 

a  strange,  settled  expression  came  up  to  her  face,  as  if  the 
poison  she  had  just  spoken  of  were  diffusing  itself  through 
her  entire  system.  At  last  she  heard  steps  approaching 
the  library,  and  hurried  away  through  the  disused  en- 
trance. 


CHAPTER  LXVIL 

THE    EVENING    RIDE. 

As  Ralph  Harrington  was  returning  from  Benson's  cabin 
one  night,  he  met  Agnes  Barker.  It  was  yet  early  in  the 
evening,  but  the  sharp,  frosty  air  rendered  it  singular  that  a 
young  girl  should  have  ventured  into  the  cold,  without 
some  important  object  to  urge  her  forth.  Ralph  had  been 
touched,  and  a  good  deal  subdued,  by  his  conversation  with 
Ben ;  and  he  would  gladly  have  avoided  this  rencontre  with 
the  governess,  who  invariably  left  him  excited  and  wretched 
with  fresh  doubts  whenever  he  conversed  with  her.  But 
Agnes  came  directly  towards  him,  and  he  remarked  that 
her  manner  of  walking  was  excited,  and  like  that  of  a  per- 
son who  had  some  important  object  to  pursue. 

"  Mr.  Ralph  Harrington,  you  have  been  unjust  to  me. 
When  I  told  you  that  Lina  French  was  still  in  the  neigh- 
borhood quietly  domesticated,  where  your  saintly  step- 
brother could  visit  her  at  will,  you  disbelieved  me,  and  cast 
discredit  on  my  word.  Since  then,  James  Harrington  has 
disappeared  mysteriously  as  she  did.  I  now  say  that  he, 
also,  is  in  the  city,  making  preparations  to  take  the  girl 
South  ;  in  a  few  days  she  will  leave  it  with  him." 

"  Why  should  he  take  this  course,  Miss  Barker,  if  it  is 
true?  My  brother  was  wealthy,  free,  and  has  been  for 
years  his  own  master.  If  he  loved  Lina,  there  was  no  need 
23 


368  MabeTs   Mistake. 

of  concealment — nothing  but  my  own  mad  passion  stood  in 
the  way,  and  Heaven  knows  that  I  was  ready  to  take  the 
heart  from  my  bosom,  could  that  have  made  him  or  her 
happier.  There  is  a  mystery  in  all  this  that  I  cannot 
fathom.  My  brother,  so  noble,  so  more  than  generous, 
could  not  have  lived  the  life  he  has,  to  prove  this  traitor  to 
himself  and  us  at  last." 

"  Then  you  still  have  faith  in  this  girl  ?  " 

"  I  will  not  believe  so  ill  of  her  as  you  seem  to  desire, 
until  some  farther  explanation  is  had.  She  may  love  my 
brother,  and  he,  I  cannot  well  understand  how  any  man 
could  help  loving  her,  for  she  was  the  purest,  the  most  lovely 
character  I  ever  knew." 

"  She  was  that  character,  it  is  well  you  say  was," 
answered  Agnes,  with  a  dash  of  scorn  in  her  voice ;  "  for  I 
am  about  to  offer  you  proof  of  what  she  is." 

Ealph  turned  white,  and  recoiled  a  step  back.  "  Proof — 
proof,  have  you  heard  something,  then  ?  " 

"Yes,  I  have  heard  from  Miss  Lina — she  has  sent  for 
me.  A  private  message,  of  which  no  one  is  to  be  in- 
formed." 

"  And,  when  are  you  going  ? — where  is  she  now  ?  " 
inquired  Ralph,  in  breathless  astonishment. 

"  Now,"  answered  Agnes.  "  She  has  sent  a  conveyance 
from  the  city,  which  waits  at  a  curve  of  the  road.  I  may 
not  return  to-night — may  never  return.  My  occupation 
here  -is  gone,  and  no  one  will  regret  me.  I  came  unloved, 
and  I  go  away  the  stranger  I  was  then  ! " 

It  was  dark,  and  Ralph  could  not  see  her  face  distinctly, 
but  the  sound  of  tears  was  in  her  voice. 

"Not  so-  -not  so  ! "  said  he,  impetuously.  "  You  will  be 
regretted — we,  at  least,  are  not  strangers ;  I  will  go  with 
you.  If  this  girl  is  in  the  city,  I  will  convince  myself  of 
the  fact  •  then,  if  your  suspicions  were  correct,  she  shall 
never  occupy  a  thought  of  mine  while  I  have  existence." 


Mistake.  369 

"Go  with  me  if  you  wish,"  said  Agnes,  mournfully;  "it 
will  be  a  few  moments  taken  from  the  desolation  of  life  that 
must  follow;  after  that  I  shall  be  alone." 

Ralph  scarcely  heeded  her ;  a  wild  desire  to  see  Lina, 
and  convince  himself  of  her  falsehood,  drove  all  other 
thoughts  from  his  mind ;  but  the  words  and  voice  which 
bespoke  so  much  tender  sorrow,  were  remembered  after- 
ward. 

"Come,  let  us  begone  at  once,"  he  said,  folding  his 
paletot  closely,  and  drawing  her  arm  through  his.  "I 
thank  Heaven  this  suspense  will  be  ended  to-morrow.  I 
shall  be  a  man  again."  -'  ,( •.;•? 

Agnes  leaned  heavily  on  his  arm ;  the  deep  snow  made 
walking  difficult,  and  this  was  her  excuse.  Ralph  only 
noticed  it  to  lend  her  assistance ;  his  thoughts  ran  wildly 
toward  Lina  French,  the  gentle,  kind-hearted  girl  who  had 
been  so  long  a  portion  of  his  own  life,  and  whose  un worthi- 
ness he  could  not  yet  wholly  realize. 

A  two-horse  sleigh,  crowded  with  buffalo  robes,  evidently 
the  equipage  of  some  wealthy  establishment,  stood  on  the 
highway  where  it  swept  down  to  General  Harrington's 
mansion.  Ralph  helped  his  companion  in,  and  they  dashed 
off  noiselessly  as  lightning,  and  almost  as  swift. 

No  word  was  spoken  between  the  two  during  the  ride. 
Agnes  shivered  now  and  then,  as  if  with  cold,  and  this 
aroused  Ralph  for  an  instant  from  the  painful  reverie  into 
which  he  had  fallen ;  but  he  only  drew  the  fur  robes  more 
closely  about  her,  and  sunk  into  perfect  unconsciousness  of 
her  presence  once  more.  Thus,  in  profound  silence  they 
readied  the  cit}r,  and  dashing  onward,  they  drew  up  before 
the  house  to  which  Lina  had  been  conveyed  only  a  few 
weeks  before. 

"  This  is  the  house,"  said  Agnes,  pushing  the  fur  robes 
from  around  her  ;  and,  without  waiting  for  help,  she  sprang 
out,  and  mounted  the  steps  just  as  the  door  was  opened  by 


370  MabeVs   Mistake. 

some  one  from  within.  A  single  word  passed  between  her 
and  the  servant,  just  as  Ralph  reached  her  side  ;  but  he 
only  heard  her  inquiring  in  the  ordinary  way  for  the  young 
lady  who  had  just  taken  up-her  residence  there. 

The  door  was  flung  wide  open,  as  if  she  had  been  ex- 
pected, and  the  servant  led  the  way  into  what,  in  the  dim 
light,  seemed  a  small  drawing-room.  The  bland,  warm 
atmosphere  that  filled  this  room  would  have  been  most 
welcome,  under  other  circumstances,  after  the  severe  cold 
of  the  night ;  but  now  Ralph  was  hardly  conscious  either 
of  the  warmth,  or  an  atmosphere  of  blooming  plants  which 
floated  luxuriously  around  him.  Rich  jets  of  gas  burned 
like  fairy  beads  in  the  lower  end  of  the  room,  dimly  reveal- 
ing the  small  conservatory  from  which  this  fragrance  came, 
and  affording  a  glimpse  here  and  there  of  rich  silk  hang- 
ings and  pictures  upon  the  wall,  whose  gorgeousness  forced 
itself  upon  the  observation  even  in  that  dim  twilight. 

Ralph  looked  around  with  surprise ;  the  place  was  so 
unlike  anything  he  had  expected  to  find,  that  for  the  mo- 
ment he  lost  sight  of  the  object  of  his  coming.  All  at  once 
he  became  conscious  of  a  third  presence — a  soft  flutter  of 
garments,  and  the  movement  of  some  person  advancing 
towards  that  portion  of  the  room  in  which  those  tiny  stars 
seemed  burning.  Directly  a  glow  of  light  burst  over  the 
whole  apartment.  The  stars  had  broken  into  brilliant  jets 
of  flame,  and  a  tent  of  blossoms  rose  before  him,  like  some 
fairy  nook  flooded  with  radiance. 

Half-way  between  this  background  of  plants  and  the 
place  he  occupied,  stood  a  female,  so  gorgeously  attired 
and  so  singular  in  her  whole  appearance,  that  the  young 
man  uttered  an  exclamation  of  surprise,  which  was  answered 
by  an  angry  start  and  an  abrupt  movement  of  the  woman, 
who  was  evidently  both  astonished  and  displeased  by  his 
presence  there. 

"  What  is  this  ?  "  she  said,  haughtily ;  "  I  gave  no  orders 
for  the  admission  of  strangers  here." 


Makers   Mistake.  371 

Before  Ralph  could  speak,  Agnes  Barker  came  forward, 
and  stood  for  a  moment  looking  steadily  in  the  woman's 
face,  thus  concentrating  her  entire  attention  on  herself. 

"Madam,  if  you  are  the  mistress  of  this  house,"  she 
said,  with  great  self-possession,  "you  will  not  consider  this 
an  intrusion,  for  it  must  have  heen  with  your  knowledge 
that  I  was  sent  for  to  attend  Miss  French — the  young  lady 
who  has  lately  taken  up  her  residence  here." 

The  woman  stood  for  a  moment  as  if  struck  dumh  with 
astonishment,  then  a  faint  smile  dawned  on  her  mouth, 
which  was  at  once  displaced  by  angry  glances  cast  upon 
Ralph  Harrington. 

"  And  this  young  gentleman,  certainly  he  was  not  sent 
for?" 

Again  Agnes  interrupted  the  explanation  Ralph  was 
ready  to  give. 

"  Your  message,  madam,  was  a  strange  one,  and  reached 
me  after  dark.  Surely  a  young  girl  coming  so  far  from 
home,  might  be  expected  to  bring  an  escort." 

"Besides,"  said  Ralph,  impetuously,  "if  Lina — if  Miss 
French  is  here,  I  have  a  better  right  to  see  her  than  any 
one  else ;  and  if  she  is  in  this  house,  I  must  and  will 
know  her  reasons  for  coming  here." 

"  The  young  lady  is  in  her  room,  and  will  receive  no  one 
at  this  time  of  night,"  answered  the  woman,  firmly ;  "  if 
you  wish  to  see  her,  let  it  be  at  some  more  proper  hour." 

"  But  I,  madam,  have  been  summoned  here  by  Miss 
French  herself!  "  said  Agnes,  with  that  firmness  which  had 
marked  her  conduct  since  she  entered  the  house.  "  Permit 
me  to  desire  that  you  lead  me  to  her  room." 

The  woman  looked  keenly  in  her  face  a  moment,  as  if 
about  to  contest  the  wish,  but  some  new  thought  seemed  to 
spring  up ;  and  answering  abruptly,  "  Come,  then,"  she 
left  the  room. 


372  Mabel's   Mistake. 

CHAPTEE  LXVIII. 

RALPH   FINDS    LINA. 

RALPH  had  been  alone  only  a  moment  when  Agnes  came 
back,  apparently  in  breathless  haste. 

"  Be  ready,"  she  whispered,  "  follow  me  after  a  moment 
— the  room  is  dark  next  to  hers ;  be  cautious  and  you  can 
both  see  and  hear  what  passes." 

Before  he  could  accept  or  reject  her  proposition,  she  was 
gone. 

"  It  is  but  right,"  he  reflected,  controlling  the  first  hon- 
orable impulse  which  revolted  at  this  secret  method  of 
gaining  information ;  "  there  is  some  mystery  which  can 
never  be  fathomed  by  straight-forward  questions.  I  will 
not  listen  meanly ;  but  proper  or  not,  if  Lina  French  is  in 
this  house  I  will  speak  with  her  !  " 

Obeying  the  impulse  urged  by  these  thoughts,  he  passed 
through  the  half  open  door,  and  following  Agnes  by  the 
rustle  of  her  dress,  paused  in  the  chamber  she  had 
designated,  reluctant  to  enter  the  room  beyond;  for  he 
saw  at  a  glance  that  the  bed  which  stood  at  one  end  was 
occupied.  A  white  hand  fell  over  the  side,  working 
nervously  among  the  folds  of  the  counterpane,  as  if  the 
person  who  lay  there  was  awake  and  ill  at  ease. 

Breathless  with  emotions  which  crowded  fast  and  pain- 
fully upon  him,  the  young  man  sunk  into  a  chair,  and  cover- 
ing his  face  with  both  hands,  strove  thus  to  gain  some  por- 
tion of  self-control ;  but  the  first  tone  of  Lina's  voice  set 
him  to  trembling  from  head  to  foot,  and  it  was  a  moment 
before  he  could  see  objects  distinctly  enough  to  recognize 
her  in  her  white  robe  and  among  those  snowy  pillows. 

"  So  you  have  come  at  last,"  she  said,  rising  on  one  elbow 
and  holding  out  her  hand  to  Agnes,  with  a  look  of  eager 


Mabets  Mistake.  373 

delight,  which  flushed  her  cheeks  and  kindled  her  blue  eyes 
with  a  wild  brilliancy  the  young  man  had  never  seen  in 
them  before ;  "  tell  me,  oh,  tell  me  how  they  all  are — my 
dear,  dear  mamma,  is  she  well?  does  she  pine  about  my 
absence — does  she  talk  of  me  ?  " 

"Mrs.  Harrington  is  grieved  and  very  anxious,"  said 
Agnes  Barker,  gently,  "  why  did  you  leaye  them  so  abruptly, 
Miss  French  ?  " 

"  I  could  not  help  leaving  them.  It  was  time.  My 
presence  there  was  sure  to  bring  trouble  and — and — don't 
ask  me  about  it.  Let  me  rest.  Don't  you  understand  that 
it  has  nearly  killed  me.  It  was  great  love  that  drove  me 
away — nothing  else.  Still  I  did  not  mean  to  go  just  then. 
A  few  days  would  not  have  made  so  much  difference,  and 
they  would  have  been  heaven  to  me ;  oh,  such  heaven,  such 
heaven,  you  cannot  guess  how  precious  every  moment  was 
at  the  last ! " 

"  But  why  did  you  send  for  me  ?  "  questioned  Agnes, 
gently.  "  Is  it  that  you  wish  to  go  back  ?  " 

"  Go  back  !  "  cried  the  poor  girl,  starting  up  with  a  flush 
of  wild  delight  that  faded  away  in  an  instant ;  "  oh  why 
did  you  say  this  cruel  thing  ?  It  is  too  late — it  is  impossi- 
ble ;  I  can  never  go  back,  never,  never,  never ! " 

Lina  fell  back  upon  her  pillows,  and  began  to  moan  pit- 
eously,  but  made  a  brave  attempt  to  stifle  her  sobs  on  the 
pillow. 

"  No,  no,  I  did  not  send  to  you  with  that  hope,  only  it 
was  so  hard  to  sit  in  this  room  day  after  day  and  hear  noth- 
ing— not  even  that  they  hated  me.  I  think, that  would 
have  been  better  than  this  dull  uncertainty.  I  only  wanted 
to  hear  just  one  little  word  ;  my  poor  heart  has  asked  for  it 
so  long,  and  now  you  tell  me  nothing." 

"  What  can  I  tell  you  except  that  your  flight  has  filled 
the  whole  household  with  grief  and  consternation." 

"  I  knew  it — I  was  sure  they  would  feel  the  gloom,  but 


374  Mabel's   Mistake. 

that  was  better  than  remaining  a  curse  and  a  shame  to 
them  all,  you  know." 

"  A  curse  and  a  shame,  Miss  French  ! "  said  Agnes,  with 
dignity ;  "  these  are  harsh  words  applied  to  one's-self.  I 
hope  you  do  not  deserve  them." 

"Did  I  say  shame?"  cried  Lina,  starting  up  in  affright; 
"  well,  well,  if  I  did,  it  cannot  reach  him  or  wound  poor 
mamma ;  as  for  me,  why,  it  is  not  much  matter,  you  know ; 
the  world  does  not  care  what  becomes  of  a  poor  little  girl 
like  me." 

A  shade  of  compassion  stole  over  Agnes  Barker's  face. 
She  took  Lina's  hand  in  hers,  and  pressed  it  softly  to  her 
lips. 

"  You  look  grieved.  I  hope  it  is  for  me,"  said  the  gentle 
girl,  and  her  eyes  filled  with  tears.  "  It  won't  hurt  you  or 
any  one  to  be  sorry  for  a  poor  child  who  is  so  very,  very 
miserable." 

Ralph  would  endure  this  touching  scene  no  longer;  he 
started  up  and  rushed  towards  the  bed,  with  both  trembling 
hands  extended,  and  his  chest  heaving  with  emotion. 

"  Lina,  Lina !  "  he  cried,  falling  on  his  knees  by  the  bed. 
"  Stop,  Lina,  you  are  killing  me — oh,  girl,  girl,  what  had  I 
done  that  you  should  bring  this  ruin  on  us  both  ?  " 

Lina  uttered  a  wild  cry  at  his  approach,  half,  rose  in  the 
bed  with  her  arms  outstretched,  and  flung  herself  upon  his 
bosom,  covering  his  hands  his  face  and  his  hair  with  kisses, 
then  as  if  struck  to  the  soul  with  a  sudden  memory,  her 
arms  fell  away,  her  lips  grew  deadly  white,  and  she  sunk 
back  to  the  pillows,  shuddering  from  head  to  foot. 

"  Lina,  Lina,  say  that  you  love  me  yet — in  the  name  of 
heaven  tell  me  what  this  means — never  before  have  you 
seemed  to  love  me  entirely,  and  now  " 

"Now,"  she  said,  rising  feebly  to  a  sitting  posture, 
"  now  sweep  those  kisses  away,  sweep  them  utterly  away,  I 
charge  you — there  is  shame  and  sin  in  every  one  j  would 


Mabets  Mistake.  375 

that  my  lips  had  been  withered  before  they  gave  such 
kisses,  and  to  you,  Kalph  Harrington  ! " 

"  Lina,  Lina  French,  is  this  real  ? "  cried  the  young 
man,  rising  slowly  to  his  feet,  pale  as  death,  but  checking 
the  tears  that  had  at  first  rushed  tenderly  to  his  eyes. 
"  May  the  God  of  heaven  forgive  you  and  help  me,  for  I 
had  rather  die  than  meet  the  pang  of  this  moment." 

"  I  know,  I  know  it  is  dreadful — see  what  it  has  done  !  " 

She  lifted  up  her  pale  hand  that  had  fallen  away  till  it 
looked  almost  transparent,  like  that  of  a  sick  child,  and 
held  it  trembling  towards  him.  Then  she  besought  him, 
with  mournful  entreaty,  to  go  away,  for  her  heart  had 
ceased  to  beat.  She  wanted  time  for  prayer  before  the 
death-pang  came. 

There  was  a  depth  of  despondency  in  her  voice,  and  an 
titter  hopelessness  of  speech  that  touched  every  kind  feeling 
in  the  young  man's  heart. 

"  No,  Lina,  I  will  not  leave  you  in  this  unhappy  condi- 
tion," he  said ;  "  your  words  have  shocked  me  beyond 
everything ;  nothing  but  your  own  avowal  would  have  con- 
vinced me  that  one  so  good  as  you  were,  Lina,  could  have 
• — have — oh  !  Lina,  Lina,  this  is  terrible." 

"  I  know  it,"  she  answered  faintly,  "  I  know  it,  but  we 
must  be  patient." 

"  Patient ! "  exclaimed  the  young  man,  "  but  if  I  can  be 
nothing  else,  one  thing  is  certain,  I  have  the  right  of  a 
wronged,  outraged  brother  to  protect  you,  this  specious 
hypocrite  shall  answer  for  the  ruin  he  has  brought  upon  us 
all!" 

Lina  started  up  wildly,  "Kalph,  Kalph,  of  whom  are 
you  speaking  ?  " 

"  Of  the  man  who  has  wronged  you,  Lina — who  has 
disgraced  the  name  of  Harrington,  and  who,  so  help  me 
God !  shall  yet  render  you  such  justice  as  the  case  per- 
mits." 


376  Makers  J\Tistake. 

Lina  gasped  for  breath,  "you  know  it  then — who  told 
you,  not  my — not  him  ?  " 

"  No  one  told  me,  Lina :  he  is  not  so  base  as  to  boast  of 
the  ruin  he  has  made  ;  heaven  forbid  that  one  who  has  a 
drop  of  my  blood  in  his  veins  should  sink  low  enough  for 
that ;  but  the  facts,  your  presence  here,  this  cruel  desertion 
of  your  friends,  the  insane  tenacity  with  which  you  cling  to 
this  miserable  fate — is  it  not  enough  ?  " 

"  Then  he  knows  nothing — oh  !  thank  God  for  that," 
gasped  Lina,  with  a  faint  hysterical  laugh. 

"  I  know  enough  to  justify  me  in  demanding  an  explana- 
tion, and  avenging  you  after  it  is  made,"  said  Ealph, 
sternly. 

"  No,  not  that,  I  charge  you,  Ealph  Harrington,  not  to 
ask  this  explanation  of  any  one.  It  will  only  deepen  and 
widen  the  ruin  that  has  so  far  fallen  on  me  alone — promise 
me,  Ealph,  promise  me,  if  you  would  not  have  me  die 
before  your  eyes  ! " 


CHAPTER  LXIX. 

AGNES    BECOMES    PATHETIC. 

EALPH  took  Lina's  hand  and  spoke  to  her  in  a  sad 
broken  voice,  "  On  one  condition,  Lina ;  go  home  with  me 
now — my  mother  will  receive  you  joyfully.  This  miserable 
absence  has  not  been  made  public.  Take  back  the  pro- 
tection you  have  abandoned.  I  will  not  ask  your  confi- 
dence, only  be  honest  and  truthful  with  my  mother.  She 
loves  you.  She  is  forgiving  as  the  angels.  Her  beautiful 
virtues  will  redeem  you,  Lina.  She  is  too  magnanimous 
for  severity,  too  pure  for  cowardly  hesitation  " 

Lina  began  to  weep  on  her  pillow,  till  the  pale  hands 
with  which  she  covered  her  face,  were  wet  with  tears. 


Mabels   Mistake.  377 

"  Oh  !  she  is  good — she  is  an  angel  of  love  and  mercy ; 
but  this  is  why  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  go  back — don't 
ask  me,  oh !  Ralph,  Kalph,  you  are  killing  me  with  this 
kindness.  Go  away,  go  away !  perhaps  God  will  let  me  die, 
and  then  all  will  be  right." 

"  Lina,  this  is  infatuation  ;  you  shall  return  home  with 
me ;  have  no  fear  of  my  presence ;  in  a  week  after  you 
accept  the  shelter  of  my  father's  roof,  again  I  go  away. 

For  an  instant  Lina  brightened  up,  then  a  still  more 
mournful  expression  came  to  her  eyes,  quenching  the  gleain 
of  yearning  hope,  and  she  shook  her  head  with  a  gesture 
of  total  despondency.  "  Don't,  don't,  my  heart  is  breaking. 
I  could  tell  her  nothing ;  he  has  forbidden  it." 

"  He ! "  repeated  the  young  man,  furiously,  "  great 
heavens,  can  you  plead  such  authority,  and  to  me  ?  " 

"  Forgive  me,  oh,  forgive  me ;  I  am  so  feeble,  so  miser- 
ably helpless,  wo'rds  escape  me  when  I  do  not  know  it.  Do 
not  bring  them  up  against  me.  Oh,  Ralph,  I  am  very  un- 
happy. The  lonesomeness  was  killing  me,  and  now  you 
have  come  upon  me  unawares,  to  turn  that  dull  anguish 
into  torture.  How  could  you  ask  me  to  go  home  ?  it  was 
cruel — ah,  me,  how  cruel !  " 

"  What  can  I  do,  how  shall  I  act  ?  "  cried  Ralph,  appeal- 
ing to  Agnes  Barker,  who  stood  earnestly  regarding  the 
scene. 

"  Leave  her  at  present,"  said  the  girl,  softly  smoothing 
Lina's  tresses  with  her  hand.  "  Reflection  may  induce  her 
to  accept  your  noble  offer;  certainly,  at  present,  she  is  too 
ill  for  any  attempt  at  a  removal." 

"  I  will  consult  my  mother,"  said  Ralph,  looking  mourn- 
fully down  upon  the  unhappy  girl,  whose  eyelids  began  to 
quiver  from  the  weight  of  tears  that  pressed  against  them, 
when  he  spoke  of  her  benefactress ;  "  Lina,  promise  me  not 
to  leave  this  place  till  I  have  consulted  with  her." 

Again  Lina  struggled  for  energy  to  speak,  but  her  voice 
only  reached  him  in  a  hoarse  whisper. 


378  Mabets   Mistake. 

"Ralph,  don't;  please  never  mention  me  to  mamma,  it 
can  only  do  harm — promise  this,  Ralph.  I  cannot  plead,  I 
cannot  weep,  but  if  this  is  my  last  breath  it  prays  you  not 
to  mention  that  you  saw  me,  to  your  mother." 

Ralph  hesitated  till  he  saw  Lina's  ..eyes,  that  were  fixed 
imploringly  'upon  him,  closing  with  a  deathly  slowness, 
while  her  face  became  as  pallid  as  the  linen  on  which  it 
rested. 

"  Lina,  Lina,  I  promise  anything,  only  do  not  turn  so 
white ! "  he  exclaimed,  terrified  by  her  stillness. 

She  opened  her  eyes  quickly,  and  tried  to  smile,  but  the 
effort  died  out  in  a  faint  quiver  of  the  lips.  She  was  too 
much  exhausted  even  for  weeping. 

"  Come,"  said  Agnes,  laying  her  hand  on  the  young 
man's  arm;  "this  excitement  will  do  her  more  injury  than 
you  dream  of.  Go  down  stairs  a  little  while,  and  wait  for 
me  there." 

Ralph  took  Lina's  poor  little  hand  from  its  rest  on  the 
counterpane,  and,  with  a  touch  of  his  old  tenderness,  was 
about  to  press  his  lips  upon  it ;  but  a  bitter  memory  seized 
him,  and  he  dropped  it,  murmuring,  "Poor  child,  poor 
child,  it  is  aTiard  wish,  but  God  had  been  merciful  if  this 
stillness  were,  indeed,  death  ! " 

A  pang  of  tender  sorrow  ran  through  Lina's  apparently 
lifeless  frame,  as  a  broken  lily  is  disturbed  by  the  wind,  but 
she  had  no  strength  even  for  a  sob;  she  heard  his  footsteps 
as  he  went  out,  but  they  sounded  afar  off,  and,  when  all  was 
still,  she  fell  into  total  unconsciousness. 

Then  the  woman  who  had  received  Ralph  and  Agnes 
came  in  from  an  adjoining  room,  and,  bending  down,  lis- 
tened for  the  breath  that  had  just  been  suspended ;  when 
satisfied  that  the  poor  sufferer  was  totally  unconscious,  she 
turned  with  a  fierce  look  upon  Agnes. 

"  Now,  Agnes,  tell  me  the  meaning  of  this  intrusion. 
How  dare  you  bring  that  young  man  here  without  my  per- 
mission ?  " 


MabeTs   Mistake.  379 

"I  brought  him,  madam,  because  you  were  resolved  to 
leave  my  share  of  the  compact  half-performed.  Did  I  not 
warn  you  in  the  beginning  that  his  alienation  from  this 
girl  must  be  complete  ?  Nothing  would  convince  him  that 
she  was  utterly  lost,  but  the  sight  he  has  just  witnessed. 
It  was  a  dangerous  experiment,  but  I  have  conquered  with 
it." 

"  And  for  what  purpose  ?  I  tell  you,  girl,  all  this  craft 
and  perseverance  is  exhausted  for  nothing.  You  are  con- 
stantly crossing  my  purposes,  and  only  to  defeat  yourself  in 
the  end." 

"It  is  useless  reasoning  in  this  fashion,"  answered 
Agnes,  insolently  ;  "  half-confidences  always  lead  to  confu- 
sion. The  truth  is,  madam,  you  have  not  at  any  time 
really  studied  my  interests ;  there  is  something  beyond  it 
all  that  I  have  had  no  share  in  from  the  first.  I  have  been 
frank  and  above-board,  while  you  are  all  mystery.  My  love 
for  the  young  gentleman  below  was  confessed  the  moment 
my  own  heart  became  conscious  of  it.  Nothing  but  his 
lingering  trust  in  this  frail  thing  kept  back  all  the  response 
to  that  love  that  I  can  desire.  This  visit  has  utterly  up- 
rooted that  faith.  The  way  is  clear  now.  Another  month, 
and  you  shall  see  if  I  am  defeated." 

The  woman  smiled  derisively. 

"  Poor  fool,"  she  said,  "  a  single  sweep  of  my  hand — or 
a  word  from  my  lips,  and  all  your  romantic  dreams  are 
dashed  away.  I  have  separated  the  miserable  girl  from  her 
lover  to  gratify  the  wildest  delusion  that  ever  entered  a 
human  brain.  This  very  night  I  sent  for  you,  that  this 
game  of  cross-purposes  might  have  an  end.  The  confidence 
you  have  so  often  asked  for,  would  have  been  yours  but  for 
this  rash  introduction  of  the  young  man  into  a  house  he 
should  never  have  seen." 

"  Give  me  that  confidence  now,  and  it  may  avail  some- 
thing !  "  answered  Agnes,  always  insolent  and  disrespectful 


380  MabeTs  Mistake. 

to  the  woman  before  her ;  "  that  I  have  some  of  your  pre- 
cious blood  in  my  veins,  you  have  taken  plenty  of  opportu- 
nities to  impress  upon  me,  but  it  shall  not  prevent  my  seek- 
ing happiness  in  my  own  way  ! " 

"  Then  you  are  resolved  to  entice  this  young  man  into  a 
marriage,  Agnes  ?  " 

"  I  am  resolved  that  he  shall  desire  it  as  much  as  my- 
self." 

Again  Zillah  covered  the  girl  with  her  scornful  glances. 

"  I  tell  you,  girl,"  she  broke  forth  passionately,  "  this  is  a 
subject  that  you  shall  not  dare  to  trifle  with.  I  desire  you 
to  leave  General  Harrington's  house ;  it  is  no  safe  home  for 
you.  Obey  me,  and,  in  a  little  time  all  the  fragments  of  my 
legacy  shall  be  yours." 

"  I  should  fancy  those  fragments  were  pretty  well  used 
up,  if  all  the  finery  in  this  house  is  paid  for,"  said  Agnes, 
with  a  scornful  laugh.  "  Even  as  a  speculation,  my  own 
project  is  the  best." 

"  Then  yon  are  determined  to  stay  in  the  house  with 
this  young  man  ?  " 

"  Why,  am  I  not  well  protected,  and  is  it  not  the  most 
natural  thing  in  the  world?  Mrs.  Harrington  has  lost  her 
companion — I  fill  her  place.  Then,  there  is  the  precious 
old  chamber-maid ;  she  might  have  more  dangerous  people 
in  the  house  than  I  am." 

"True,"  muttered  Zillah,  thoughtfully.  "Well,  girl, 
take  your  own  way  a  little  longer ;  but,  remember,  I  must 
have  a  promise  that  no  engagement  shall  be  made  with 
Ralph  Harrington  without  my  previous  knowledge.  A  few 
weeks,  Agnes,  will  bring  our  affairs  to  a  crisis — when  you 
and  I  shall  be  all-powerful  or  nothing.  As  for  this  wild 
—but  hush ! " 

Zillah  pointed  wamingly  toward  the  bed,  where  Lina  was 
struggling  into  consciousness  again.  "  Are  you  better, 
love  ?  "  she  inquired,  gently  bending  over  the  pale  form. 


Mabets  Mistake.  381 

But  Lina  faintly  turned  away  her  head,  without  even  an 
attempt  at  speech. 

Taking  advantage  of  the  moment,  Agnes  left  the  cham- 
ber, and  glided  down  into  the  room  where  Kalph  sat  wait- 
ing, harassed  with  painful  thoughts. 

He  did  not  notice  Agnes  as  she  came  gliding  up  the  room, 
and  took  her  place  on  the  sofa  hy  his  side ;  hut  directly  the 
clasp  of  soft  fingers  on  his  hand,  which  fell  listlessly  on  the 
cushion,  made  him  look  up,  and  the  large,  compassionate 
eyes  of  Agnes  Barker  looked  into  his.  Unconsciously  he 
clasped  the  fingers  that  had  sought  his.  "  How  is  she  now  ? 
I  am  sure  that  you  were  kind  to  her,  poor  young  thing." 

Agnes  did  not  answer ;  hut,  as  he  looked  up,  astonished 
at  her  silence,  the  sight  of  her  dark  eyes  flooded  with  tears, 
and  a  hroken  soh  that  struggled  up  from  her  hosom,  took 
him  hy  surprise.  In  all  his  acquaintance  with  her,  he  had 
never  seen  Agnes  shed  a  tear  till  that  moment. 

"  You  are  ready  to  cry,"  he  said,  gratefully.  "  Heaven 
knows  a  hetter  reason  for  tears  never  existed — poor,  lost 
girl!" 

"  You  give  me  too  much  credit,"  said  Agnes,  in  a  low 
voice ;  "  from  my  soul  I  pity  the  unhappy  young  creature 
up-stairs — hut,  indeed,  indeed  I  envy  her,  too  ! " 

"Envy  her?" 

"  Indeed,  yes,  that  so  much  love — such  heavenly  forgive- 
ness can  outlive  her  fault ;  that  she  has  even  now  the  power 
to  reject  the  compassion  withheld  from  deeper  and  purer 
feelings  in  others.  Oh,  yes,  Ralph  Harrington,  it  is  envy 
more  than  anything  else  that  fills  my  eyes  with  tears." 

"  Agnes  ! "  exclaimed  the  young  man,  breathlessly. 

The  girl  bent  her  head,  and  made  a  faint  effort  to  with- 
draw her  hand  from  his  tightened  clasp.  Directly  Kalph 
relinquished  the  hand  slowly,  and  arose. 

"  Miss  Barker,  you  pity  me.  You  feel  compassion  for 
the  tenacity  of  affection  which  clings  around  its  object  even 
in  ruin.  I  understand  this,  and  am  grateful." 


382  Mabels  Mistake. 

Agnes  clenched  the  rejected  hand  in  noiseless  passion, 
but  Ralph  only  saw  the  great  tears  that  fell  into  her  lap. 
He  stood  a  moment  irresolute,  and  then  placed  himself 
again  hy  her  side. 

"  Do  not  weep,  Miss  Barker ;  you  only  make  my  unhap- 
piness  more  complete  ! " 

He  looked  up,  and  again  their  eyes  met. 

"  If  it  were  so,  you  can  at  least  give  me  pity  in  exchange 
for  pity ! "  she  said,  with  gentle  humility ;  "  faith  to  the 
faithless  cannot  forbid  this  to  me." 

Ralph  was  silent ;  in  the  tumult  of  his  thoughts  he  for- 
got to  answer,  and  that  moment  Zillah  entered  the  room. 


CHAPTER  LXX. 

MABEL    HARRINGTON   AND    HER    SON. 

BEN  BENSON  was  never  at  home  now ;  he  went  into  the 
woods  daily  to  snare  partridges,  and  set  box-traps  for 
rabbits,  he  said  ;  and  the  inmates  of  General  Harrington's 
mansion  were  too  sad  and  disheartened  even  for  smiles, 
at  the  idea  of  rabbits  or  partridges  on  New  York  island. 
Indeed,  the  old  fellow  was  too  unhappy  for  his  usual  avoca- 
tions. He  would  not  force  himself  to  sit  down  at  his 
nets,  or  touch  the  carpenter's  tools  with  which  the  boat- 
house  was  garnished.  A  strange  belief  haunted  him  night 
and  day,  that  Lina  was  somewhere  in  the  wood,  frozen  to 
death,  and  buried  in  the  snow  drifts — or  worse,  perhaps, 
had  fallen  through  some  air-hole  in  the  ice,  and  perished, 
calling  in  vain  for  help  !  The  idea  that  she  had  deliberately 
left  her  home,  never  found  a  place  in  his  belief  for  an 
instant. 

Sometimes,  in  these   wanderings,  the   old  seaman   saw 


Mabel's  Mistake.  383 

Mabel  Harrington  taking  her  own  solitary  way  through  the 
woods,  but  he  had  no  wish  to  address  her ;  and,  if  she 
passed  near  him,  would  shrink  behind  some  tree,  or  pre- 
tend to  be  busy  with  his  traps ;  for  the  mere  sight  of  her 
face,  rigid  and  stern  with  a  continued  strain  of  thought, 
was  enough  to  strike  him  mute. 

Thus  it  was  that  Mabel  appeared  to  her  family  now. 
The  strength  and  the  sunshine  had  departed  from  beneath 
that  roof,  and  a  dull,  heavy  depression  lay  everywhere 
about  her.  General  Harrington  rather  made  the  old  man- 
sion a  convenience  than  a  home ;  half  his  time  was  spent 
at  the  club-house.  He  had  of  late  taken  rooms  at  one  of 
those  aristocratic  up-town  hotels,  so  foreign  in  all  their  ap- 
pointments, that  they  might  as  well  be  in  the  Boulevards 
of  Paris  as  in  New  York,  and  often  remained  in  them  all 
night ;  thus,  without  any  apparent  abandonment  of  his 
wife,  he  in  reality  made  the  separation  between  them  more 
complete  than  it  had  yet  been. 

Did  Mabel  never  inquire  of  herself  the  reason  of  all 
this  ?  Alas !  it  is  difficult  to  say  what  anxiety  or  idea 
fixed  itself  uppermost  in  that  disturbed  mind.  The  period 
was  one  of  continued  and  heavy  depression  with  her.  She 
had  ceased  to  struggle  with  her  own  heart,  or  with  the 
dead,  heavy  weight  of  misery  that  settled  each  hour  colder 
and  more  drearily  about  her  life.  She  took  no  interest  in 
the  household,  but  left  everything  to  the  management  of 
Agnes  Barker.  The  very  presence  of  the  young  woman 
was  oppressive  to  her,  yet  so  drearily  had  her  high  spirit 
yielded  itself  to  the  one  numbing  thought  of  James  Har- 
rington's absence,  that  she  had  no  power  even  to  repel  this 
repulsion,  much  less  cast  its  object  off. 

For  a  time,  Kalph  had  broken  up  the  monotony  of  this 

dead  life,  with  his  wild  conjectures  and  bitter  complaints. 

He  spoke  of  his  half-brother  in  wrath  the  more  stern  and 

deep,  that  his  love  for  him  had  once  been  so  full  of  tender- 

24 


384  MabeFs  Mistake. 

ness.  He  was  like  a  man  whose  old  religious  faith  heing 
once  uprooted,  believes  that  no  other  can  exist,  and  that  the 
Deity  is  unstable.  In  his  wrath  against  this  brother — in 
his  weak  distrust  of  Lina,  the  young  man  had  recklessly 
cast  away  the  brightest  jewel  of  his  nature,  because 
they  appeared  faithless;  he  believed  that  all  humanity 
was  frail.  Alas  !  when  such  gems  of  the  soul  drop  away  in 
youth,  it  is  only  with  hard  experience  and  keen  suffering 
that  they  can  be  gathered  back  from  the  depths  of  life 
again. 

But,  during  the  last  few  days,  Ralph  had  seen  little  of 
his  mother.  His  interview  with  Lina,  and  his  promise  of 
silence,  had  effected  this.  The  dead  certainty  that  fell 
upon  him  of  her  utter  unworthiness,  had  buried  all  the  fiery 
passions  of  his  heart  into  a  smouldering  desire  for  revenge 
on  the  man  who  had  smitten  her  down  from  the  altar  of 
his  esteem.  Formerly  he  had  raved,  and  argued,  and  out- 
run his  own  belief  of  her  faithlessness — hoping,  poor  fellow, 
that  out  of  all  this  storm  some  proof  would  be  wrung  that 
his  suspicions  wronged  her.  His  mother's  sweet  attempts 
at  defence — her  broken-hearted  efforts  to  explain  away  the 
disgraceful  appearances  that  hung  around  the  departure  of 
Harrington  and  her  protege  at  the  same  time,  only  exas- 
perated him.  He  wanted  her  to  condemn  his  suspicions — 
contradict,  trample  on  them.  He  would  have  gloried  in 
any  injustice  against  himself,  if  she  had  only  stood  up 
stoutly  against  his  bitter  suspicions.  But  Mabel  was  too 
truthful  for  this.  The  proud  heart  recoiled  in  her  bosom, 
as  from  a  blow,  at  every  harsh  word  against  either  Harring- 
ton or  her  adopted  daughter.  The  strong  sense  of  justice, 
which  was  her  finest  attribute,  kept  her  from  those  impetu- 
ous bursts  oi  defence,  which  a  single  gleam  of  doubt  would 
have  brought  vividly  to  her  lips. 

Mabel  did  not  for  an  instant  believe  in  the  coarse  inter- 
pretation which  others  might  have  given  to  the  elopement ; 


MabeTs   Mistake.  385 

had  that  been  possible,  the  keenest  of  her  pain  might  have 
been  dulled  by  contempt.  No,  no!  The  worst  that  she 
thought  was  that  Harrington,  for  some  inexplicable  reason, 
had  withdrawn  Lina  from  her  home  to  marry  her  in  pri- 
vate ;  but  this  was  enough.  It  had  broken  up  that  confi- 
dence, unexpressed,  but  always  a  holy  principle  in  both, 
which  had  so  long  held  those  two  souls  together,  spite  of 
everything  that  ought  to  have  kept  them  apart,  and  did 
keep  them  apart,  completely  as  the  most  rigid  moralist  could 
have  demanded. 

But  we  suffer  as  often  for  our  feelings  as  our  actions ; 
and,  in  the  bare  fact  that  a  woman  like  Mabel  Harrington 
— so  capable  of  deep  feeling,  so  rich  in  all  those  higher 
qualities  that  ripen  to  perfection  only  in  the  warm  atmos- 
phere of  love — had  married  a  man  whom  she  never  could 
love,  lay  a  bitter  reason  for  -her  unhappiness ;  the  one  sin 
that  had  woven  its  iron  thread  through  what  seemed  to 
others  the  golden  coil  of  her  life. 

Mabel  saw  all  this ;  for  years  the  knowledge  of  her  own 
rash  act  had  coiled  the  snake  around  her  heart,  which  was 
eating  away  its  life,  had  been  the  shadow  around  her  foot- 
steps which  nothing  could  sweep  away,  not  even  her  own 
will.  She  was  a  slave,  the  slave  of  her  own  deadly  sin  ;  for 
a  deadly  sin  it  is  which  links  two  unloving  hearts  together, 
even  in  so  brief  a  period  of  eternity  as  this  world.  And 
Mabel  was  too  good,  too  great,  too  kindly  of  heart  to  be 
the  bond  slave  of  one  sin  forever  and  ever,  to  feel  her 
soul  eternally  dragged  back  by  the  chain  and  ball  which 
she  had  fastened  to  it  in  one  rash  moment  of  her  early 
youth.  Had  she  been  otherwise,  some  thought  of  escape 
would  have  presented  itself  to  a  mind  so  full  of  strength 
and  vivid  imagination  as  hers.  On  every  hand  the  law, 
and  society  itself,  held  out  temptations,  and  pointed  to  the 
way  by  which  she  might  cast  off  her  bonds,  and,  as  thou- 
sands do,  escape  the  penalty  of  one  rash  act  by  a  cowardly 


386  Mabets   Mistake. 

defiance  of  the  laws  of  God,  under  the  mean  shelter  of 
human  legislation. 

In  a  country  where  venal  statesmen  make  "  marriage  vows 
as  false  as  dicers'  oaths,"  by  reducing  a  solemn  sacrament 
into  a  miserable  compact,  Mabel  Harrington  might  have 
escaped  the  evil  of  her  own  act,  and  taken  a  dastardly 
refuge  in  the  law,  but  the  thought  had  never  entered  her 
mind.  It  is  a  hard  penalty  for  sins,  which  the  world  will 
not  recognize  as  such,  when  every  hour  calls  for  some  atone- 
ment— when  each  household  step  is  made  heavy  by  loveless 
thoughts ;  Mabel  was  conscious  of  her  own  wrong,  and 
even  these  small  doling  atonements  never  regarded  by  the 
world,  yet  which  tell  so  fearfully  on  the  life,  had  been 
patiently  performed.  She  had  given  way  to  no  sentimental 
repinings — nor  striven  to  cast  the  blame  upon  others  that 
justly  belonged  to  herself ;  but,  like  a  brave  true-hearted 
woman,  had  always  been  willing  to  gather  up  the  night- 
shade her  own  hands  had  planted,  with  the  flowers  that  God 
had  still  left  in  her  path,  without  appealing  to  the  world  for 
sympathy  or  approval. 

This  had  been  Mabel  Harrington's  life — a  coarse  woman 
would,  perhaps,  have  contented  herself  with  its  material 
comforts,  and,  without  loving,  ceased  to  desire  the  capacities 
of  love ;  the  world  is  full  of  such.  A  wicked  woman  would 
have  skulked  out  of  her  fate  through  the  oily-hinged  por- 
tals of  the  law — a  feeble  woman  would  have  pined  herself 
to  death  ;  but  Mabel  was  none  of  these,  else  my  pen  would 
not  love  to  dwell  upon  her  character,  as  it  does  now.  She 
had  gone  through  her  life  honestly,  cultivating  all  her  good 
feelings  with  genial  hopefulness,  seizing  upon  the  bad  with 
a  firm  will,  and  crowding  them  back  into  the  darkness, 
where  they  had  little  chance  to  grow. 

But,  sin  is  like  the  houseleek  planted  upon  a  mossy  roof, 
— after  one  fibre  has  taken  root,  you  find  the  tough  heads 
springing  up  everywhere,  fruitful  of  harsh,  thorny-edged 


Motets  Mistake.  387 

leaves,  and  nothing  else.  You  work  diligently,  tear  them. 
up  by  the  roots,  trample  them  to  pieces,  and,  when  you 
think  the  evil  of  that  first  planting  is  altogether  eradicated, 
up  from  the  heart  of  some  moss-flower,  or  creeping  out 
from  the  curved  edge  of  the  eaves,  comes  a  fresh  crop ;  and 
you  know  that  the  one  fibre  is  spreading  and  entangling 
itself  constantly  with  a  hold  that  you  little  dreamed  of  in 
the  outset. 

Mabel  had  planted  her  one  houseleek,  and  it  was  with 
faithful  exertion  she  kept  it  from  covering  her  whole  nature. 
At  times  it  seemed  that  every  beautiful  thing  of  life  would 
be  eaten  up  and  choked  to  death  in  this  one  tough  growth, 
and  at  this  period  of  her  life,  Mabel  felt  like  sitting  down 
in  apathy,  while  she  watched  the  evil  thing  thrive. 


CHAPTER  LXXI. 

THE  MISSING  BOOK. 

MABEL  sat,  hour  after  hour,  week  after  week,  passive,  still, 
and  sad,  with  a  world  of  sorrow  in  her  face,  looking  back 
upon  the  jewels  that  had  dropped  away  from  her  life, 
mournfully,  but  with  little  wish  to  gather  them  up  again. 
Her  husband  never  asked  an  explanation  of  this  strange 
mood  in  his  wife,  but  at  times  he  seemed  perfectly  conscious 
of  it,  and  to  feel  a  hidden  pleasure  in  her  depression ;  for, 
though  he  did  not  love  this  woman,  the  old  man's  vanity 
was  as  quick  as  ever,  and  it  pleased  him  to  see  that  her  own 
soul  was  taking  the  vengeance  on  itself  that  he  had  bartered 
off  for  a  price.  Miserable,  selfish,  old  man !  All  the  gold 
of  his  life  had  turned  to  paltry  tinsel  years  ago. 

At  another  time,  Mabel  was  too  quick  of  thought  not  to 
have  remarked  the  singularity  of  General  Harrington's 


388  Mabets   Mistake. 

silence  regarling  the  departure  of  his  step-son,  but  now 
she  was  only  thankful  to  shrink  away  from  the  subject ; 
and,  during  their  brief  interviews,  nothing  but  the  most 
bland  inquiries,  and  polite  common-places,  marked  his 
behavior.  He  seemed  in  high  good  humor — more  than 
•usually  lavish  of  money,  and  altogether  one  of  the  most 
charming,  antique  gentlemen  in  the  world.  Shallow  world- 
lings would  tell  you  that  this  decorous  old  rebel  was  happier 
than  his  victims,  and  point  to  his  rosy  cheeks,  his  eyes 
twinkling  with  sunshine,  and  his  handsome,  portly  figure, 
as  the  proof.  Let  worldlings  think  so,  if  they  like ;  for  my 
part,  I  would  rather  have  the  pain  of  a  fine  nature  liko 
Mabel's,  than  the  smooth,  selfish  sensuality,  which  some 
men  honestly  call  happiness.  Shallow  and  frozen  waters 
are  never  turbulent,  but  who  envies  the  ice  over  one,  or  the 
pebbles  under  the  other  ?  Happiness  !  Why,  one  little 
word  in  that  handsome,  old  man's  ear,  would  make  him 
shiver,  and  tremble,  and  look  the  coward,  as  Mabel  would 
never  do,  woman  though  she  was — the  one  word  death; 
just  speak  it !  Mark  how  the  color  will  flee  from  his 
frightened  face  !  Speak  that  same  word  to  her,  and  you 
will  see  her  features,  so  sad  before,  light  up  with  a  pearly 
glow,  like  that  shed  through  an  alabaster  lamp  when  its 
perfumed  oil  is  alight. 

But  Mabel  is  just  beginning  to  awake  from  the  thrall  in 
which  her  mind  has  been  held,  and  wonder  a  little  at 
Ralph's  changed  manner — his  look  is  so  grave  and  stern 
now — he  utters  no  complaint,  and  says  but  little  in  any 
way ;  these  moods  shock  his  mother  less  than  the  old  one, 
but  it  lifts  her  out  of  her  dreams,  and  makes  her  thoughtful 
once  more.  But,  Ralph  is  no  longer  communicative — he  is 
sometimes  seen  holding  long  conversations  with  Agnes 
Barker  in  the  now  deserted  breakfast-room,  but  he  avoids 
honest  old  Ben,  and  talks  cautiously  and  under  restraint 
with  his  mother.  This  is  a  new  phase  of  Ralph's  character 


Mabets   Mistake.  389 

which  Mabel  regards  with  something  like  surprise  ;  but  her 
energies  are  all  prostrated  for  the  time,  and  in  these  vague 
surmises  there  is  not  shock  enough  to  arouse  them  into  life 
again. 

There  was  one  thing  which  Mabel,  with  all  her  thinking, 
had  never  yet  been  able  to  solve — why  had  James  Harring- 
ton found  it  needful  to  persuade  that  inexperienced  girl 
away  from  her  home  ?  There  existed  no  reason  for  it.  He 
was  wealthy —  his  own  master  —  accountable  to  no  oae ; 
surely  it  was  not  fear  of  his  younger  brother,  who  would 
have  given  the  very  heart  from  his  bosom,  had  James  de- 
sired it.  If  he  loved  Lina,  a  single  appeal  to  the  noble 
young  fellow's  generosity  would  have  been  enough — then 
why  wound  and  insult  him  by  a  course  so  unnecessarily 
cruel  ? 

Mabel  revolved  these  questions  over  and  over  in  her 
mind,  till  they  threw  her  thoughts  back  upon  herself.  Had 
she  anything  to  account  for — had  James  suspected  the 
secret  of  her  own  weary  life,  and,  fearing  to  wound  her  by 
his  love  for  another,  fled  to  be  alone  with  his  happiness  ? 

This  thought  broke  up  the  apathy  into  which  she  had 
fallen,  with  a  sudden  shock,  as  we  hear  sheets  of  ice  crack, 
and  shoot  a  thousand  silver  arrows  over  what  has  been  a 
smooth  surface  the  moment  before.  A  new  thought  seized 
upon  her — a  fear  that  made  her  tremble  from  head  to  foot. 

Mabel  was  alone  in  her  boudoir,  when  this  new  terror  fell 
upon  her.  She  arose  suddenly,  and  going  up  to  her  escri- 
toire, unlocked  it,  and  searched  for  the  vellum  book.  It 
was  nowhere  to  be  found.  She  tore  the  papers  out  in  pale 
eagerness,  opened  drawers,  unlocked  secret  compartments, 
searched  in  other  cabinets,  till  every  nook  and  corner  of  her 
apartments  had  been  examined.  Then  she  sat  down, 
breathless,  and  so  pale  that  the  face  which  looked  back  on 
her  from  the  opposite  mirror,  seemed  that  of  another  per- 
son. Where  had  the  book  gone — who  had  dared  to  remove 


390  MabeTs  Mistake. 

it  from  the  place  -where,  for  years  and  years,  it  had  been 
kept  sacred  from  all  eyes,  as  the  pulses  of  her  own  heart  ? 

Breathless  with  anxiety,  desperate  with  apprehension, 
determined  to  question  every  servant  of  the  house,  she  rang 
the  bell. 

Agnes  Barker  presented  *herself  in  answer  to  this  sum- 
mons. The  girl  had,  of  late,  seemed  to  find  pleasure  in 
forcing  herself  upon  Mabel,  and  would  frequently  make  an 
excuse  to  seek  her  room  in  place  of  the  servant,  whenever 
one  was  summoned.  Though  her  presence  was  generally 
unwelcome,  Mabel  was  glad  to  see  her  then.  Excitement 
had,  for  the  moment,  swept  away  the  nervous  recoil  with 
which  she  always  regarded  her. 

"  Miss  Barker,  I  had  a  book  in  this  escritoire,  bound 
in  vellum,  and  filled  with  manuscript  notes.  It  had  a  curi- 
ous gold  clasp.  You  cannot  mistake  the  description.  That 
book  is  missing." 

"  Well,  madam  ! "  answered  the  girl,  with  cold  compos- 
ure ;  "  is  it  of  me  you  demand  that  book  ?  I  have  not 
seen  it.  This  is  the  first  time  I  ever  saw  your  desk  open. 
I  believe  the  key  has  always  been  in  your  own  posses- 
sion ! " 

"  I  thought  so,"  answered  Mabel,  feeling  once  more 
among  the  charms  attached  to  her  watch,  to  be  sure  the 
key  was  still  there ;  "  I  thought  so,  but  the  book  is  gone." 

"  Shall  I  call  the  servant,  madam  ?  The  new  chamber- 
maid possibly  knows  something  of  it ;  she  has  taken  charge 
of  this  room  lately." 

"  Indeed,  I  have  not  observed,"  said  MabeL  "  Yes,  send 
her  here." 


Mabels   Mistake.  391 

CHAPTER  LXXII. 

FRAGMENTS    OF   MABEI/S   JOURNAL. 

AGNES  went  out  quietly,  as  if  there  had  been  neither 
anger  nor  suspicion  in  Mrs.  Harrington's  voice.  The  poor 
lady  sat  trembling  from  head  to  foot,  still  searching  the 
room  wildly  with  her  eyes,  till  the  mulatto  chambermaid 
came  in. 

"  What's  de  matter  wid  de  chile ;  she's  white  as  snow, 
and  seems  a'most  as  cold ;  'pears  like  something  'stresses 
her,"  said  the  woman,  casting  a  sidelong  glance  at  the  lady 
from  under  the  half-closed  lids  of  her  eyes,  which  never 
seemed  capable  of  opening  themselves  fully  in  Mabel's  pres- 
ence. 

"  Woman  !  "  said  Mabel,  sharply,  for  her  anxiety  was  like 
a  pain.  "  Woman,  I  have  lost  a  book  from  my  escritoire 
yonder — a  white  book,  clasped  with  gold — what  has  become 
of  it  ?  " 

"  Goodness  knows,  missus !  I  don't  know  nothin'  'bout 
no  book,  praise  de  Lor* !  I  dussent  know  one  kind  of 
readin'  from  t'other.  Books  ain't  no  kind  o'  use  to  dis 
colored  pusson,  no  how ;  so  faint  I  as  has  gone  and  tuk  it." 

"  No,  no,  but  you  may  have  seen  it.  Possibly  the  desk 
may  have  been  left  open,  and  you,  not  knowing  it  from 
other  books,  have  put  it  away  among  those  of  the  library. 
See,  it  was  filled  with  writing  like  this." 

Here  Mabel  took  up  a  pen,  and  hastily  dashed  off  a  line 
or  two  on  a  loose  sheet  of  paper.  The  woman  took  the 
paper,  turned  it  wrong  end  up,  and  began  to  examine  it 
with  serious  scrutiny,  as  if  she  were  striving  to  make  out 
its  meaning. 

"  'Pears  like  the  inside  was  like  this,  miss  ?  "  she  said  at 
last,  with  another  glance  at  the  pale  face  of  her  mistress. 


892  MabeTs   Mistake. 

Mabel  took  the  paper  impatiently  from  her.  "No, 
like  this,"  she  cried,  reversing  the  page.  "  You  should 
be  able  to  understand  the  peculiarities  of  the  marks,  even 
though  you  cannot  read." 

"  Like  dis  is  it — de  high  marks  shootin'  up  so,  and  the 
long  one  running  out  scrigly  scrawley  like  dis  one  ;  'pears 's 
if  I'd  seen  'em  afore,  but  'twasn't  in  a  bounden  book, 
golly  knows." 

"  You  have  seen  the  writing — very  well — where  was 
it?" 

"  Up  in  Master  James'  room,  the  day  he  went  off. 
Them's  the  same  marks,  Lor'  knows." 

"  In  Mr.  James  Harrington's  room  !  "  exclaimed  Mabel, 
white  as  snow. 

"  Please,  missus,  tell  jus'  what  the  book  was  outside  and 
in." 

Mabel  held  up  the  sheet  of  paper  on  which  she  had 
written,  but  it  trembled  like  a  plucked  leaf  in  her  hand. 

"This  size,  with  a  white  cover,  edged  with  gold.  The 
lock  was  clasped  with  a  trinket  like  this  on  my  watch,  only 
larger,  and  with  red  sparks  set  in  it." 

"Like  dis,  with  little  red  stuns — the  cover  white,  and 
shut  wid  a  thing  like  this.  Yes,  missus,  Master  James  had 
a  book  jus'  like  de  one  you  mean  in  his  room,  de  berry 
morning  afore  he  done  and  went  off!  " 

"  Go,"  said  Mabel,  shivering,  "  go  search  for  it !  " 

The  woman  shuffled  herself  out  of  the  room  ;  directly  she 
returned,  with  several  leaves  of  crumpled  writing  in  one 
hand,  and  some  small  object  clenched  in  the  other. 

"  The  book's  done  gone,  missus  ;  but  here's  something  dat 
I  found  on  his  table,  'sides  dis  what  I  sifted  out  of  de 
ashes." 

She  handed  Mabel  some  crumpled  pages  of  her  journal, 
evidently  torn  from  the  book ;  the  half  of  a  broken  heart, 
dulled  with  fire,  and  the  corner  of  what  had  once  been  a 


MabeCs   Mistake.  393 

vellum  cover,  burned  almost  away,  but  with  a  gleam  of  the 
tarnished  gold  and  white  upon  the  edge. 

"  Sakes  alive,  how  white  you  is,  missus  !  "  exclaimed  the 
woman,  and  a  disagreeable  gleam  broke  from  under  her 
half-shut  eyelids,  as  she  saw  Mabel  stagger  and  sink  faintly 
back  into  her  chair,  grasping  the  fragments  of  her  journal 
as  she  fell. 

"  No,  no  ! "  she  gasped,  repulsing  the  mulatto  with  her 
hand:  "I  am  not  white — I  am  not  ill.  These — these — you 
found  them  in  Mr.  James  Harrington's  room  ! " 

"  Them  papers  was  on  his  table  wid  his  cigar-case,  an' 
pipe,  an'  dem  tings.  De  gol'  heart,  and  dat  oder,  dis  chile 
fished  out  o'  de  grate,  for  de  Lord  just  as  'tis  dare." 

"  Go  !  "  commanded  Mabel,  hoarsely.  "  I  know  where 
the  book  went  to  ;  that  is  enongh  ! " 

"  'Pears  like  you  is  goin'  to  faint,"  answered  the  woman, 
who  seemed  reluctant  to  leave  her. 

"  No,  I  am  well — very  well.     Leave  me." 

The  woman  turned  away,  and,  as  she  went  forth,  the  dis- 
agreeable smile  we  have  before  mentioned,  crept  slowly 
across  her  mouth. 

As  the  door  closed,  the  fragments  of  her  journal  dropped 
from  Mabel's  hand ;  her  arms  fell  loosely  downward,  and 
shrinking  to  a  pale  heap  in  the  chair,  she  fainted  quite 
away. 


CHAPTER  LXXIII. 

THE     TWO     BROTHERS. 


RALPH  had  been  away  from  home  since  the  day  before 
Mabel  was  taken  ill.  He  had  left  suddenly,  after  a  con- 
versation with  Agnes  in  the  breakfast-room ;  and,  though 


394  Makers   Mistake. 

the  governess  sat  up  till  late  at  night,  anxious  and  watchful, 
he  did  not  return.  Thus  it  happened  that  Mrs.  Harrington 
was,  for  the  time,  left  completely  in  the  hands  of  her  ser- 
vants. 

But,  where  had  Ralph  gone,  and  why?  To  indulge  in 
one  strong  passion,  and  escape  the  meshes  of  another,  the 
young  man  had  left  home.  Spite  of  her  craft,  and  that 
consummate  self-control  that  seemed  incompatible  with  her 
evil  nature,  Agnes  had  at  last  madly  confessed  her  love  to 
the  young  man.  It  is  possible  that  some  kindly  expression 
on  his  part  might  have  led  to  this  unwomanly  exposure,  for 
Agnes  had  an  amount  of  sullen  pride  in  her  nature  which 
would  have  kept  her  silent,  had  not  some  misinterpreted 
word  or  action  led  her  astray.  Ralph's  unfeigned  surprise, 
joined  to  the  cold  restraint  with  which  he  met  her  outgush 
of  passion,  fell  like  cold  lead  upon  her  fiery  nature.  All 
that  was  bitter  and  hard  in  her  soul,  rose  up  at  once  to 
resent  the  indignity  which  her  own  uncurbed  impulses  had 
provoked.  But,  she  was  tenacious  of  an  object  once  aimed 
at ;  and,  instead  of  the  hope  that  had  filled  her  life  till 
now,  came  a  firm  resolution,  at  any  cost  of  truth  or  con- 
science, to  win  a  return  of  her  love,  even  though  it  were  to 
cast  it  back  in  bitter  retribution,  for  the  shame  under  which 
she  writhed. 

This  was  a  new  source  of  distress  to  the  young  man,  and 
he  left  home  really  without  any  definite  object,  but  to 
escape  the  society  of  a  person  whose  presence  had  become 
almost  a  reproach  to  him.  He  did  not  speak  of  his  depar- 
ture to  Mrs.  Harrington,  because  its  object  was  indefinite  in 
his  own  mind,  and  he  had  spent  one  night  from  home 
before  she  was  aware  of  his  absence. 

By  some  attraction,  which  we  do  not  pretend  to  explain, 
the  young  man  went  first  to  the  house  where  he  had  seen 
Lina.  He  had  no  wish  to  enter  it,  and  shrunk  painfully 
from  the  thought  of  seeing  her  again ;  but  still  he  lingered 


Mabel's  Mistake.  895 

around  the  dwelling — left  it — returned  again,  and  could 
not  tear  himself  away,  so  tenacious  and  cruel  was  his 
object. 

His  object— true  it  was  not  love  ;  now  the  very  word 
seemed  enough  to  drive  him  mad.  The  unwelcome  passion 
of  one  woman  heaped  upon  the  wrongs  done  him  by 
another,  was  enough  to  make  the  very  remembrance  repul- 
sive. No,  love  was  lost  to  him,  he  madly  thought,  forever. 
But  there  is  yet  a  fiercer  and  more  burning  passion  and 
that  urged  him  forward.  He  would  be  revenged  on  the 
man  who  had  torn  all  the  joy  from  his  life.  He  would 
meet  that  false  brother  face  to  face,  beyond  that  Ralph  had 
calculated  nothing.  It  seemed  to  him  that  the  very 
glances  of  his  eyes  would  be  enough  to  cover  the  traitor 
with,  eternal  remorse.  So  he  watched  and  waited  before 
Zillah's  house,  hoping,  burning  with  impatience,  that  Har- 
rington would  pass  in  or  out  while  seeking  the  presence 
of  his  victim,  and  thus  they  might  meet.  But  he  watched 
in  vain. 

Already  had  Ralph,  inquired  at  every  hotel  where  James 
Harrington  would  be  likely  to  stay,  and  now  weary  and  full 
of  smouldering  rage,  he  resolved  to  go  home,  and  there 
await  some  news  of  him. 

On  his  way  up  town,  a  hotel  carriage  passed  him,  filled 
with  passengers  from  some  newly  arrived  train.  In  that 
carriage  Ralph  saw  his  brother. 

The  carriage  stopped  after  a  little.  James  Harrington, 
dusty,  pale  and  travel-worn,  stepped  out,  and  stood  face 
to  face  with  his  young  brother. 

For  one  instant  his  fine  eye  lighted  up,  and  he  grasped 
the  youth's  hand. 

"Ralph!" 

Ralph  wrenched  his  hand  away,  and  James  saw  that  his 
eyes  were  full  of  lurid  fire. 

"  What  is  this,  Ralph  ?     You  look  strangely ! "  he  said. 


396  Mabel's   Mistake. 

"I  feel  strangely,"  answered  the  youth,  shuddering 
under  the  rush  of  tenderness  that  surged  up  through  his 
wrath.  "  I  have  been  searching  for  you,  sir,  waiting  for 


you  " 

"  Why,  it  is  not  so  long  since  I  left  home,  Ralph." 

"  It  seems  an  eternity  to  me,"  answered  the  boy ;  and 
spite  of  his  wrathful  manhood,  tears  sprang  up,  and  spread 
like  a  mist  over  the  smouldering  fire  of  his  eyes. 

James  looked  at  him  with  grave  earnestness,  his  own  face 
was  pale  and  careworn,  his  eyes  heavy  with  a  potent  sorrow, 
but  it  took  an  expression  of  deeper  anxiety  as  he  perused 
the  working  features  before  him. 

"  My  dear  boy,  something  is  amiss  with  you ;  come  into 
the  hotel.  I  have  a  room  here  yet.  Cheer  up,  it  must  be 
a  bitter  sorrow,  indeed,  if  your  brother  cannot  help  you  out 
of  it." 

Ralph  ground  his  teeth,  and  the  word  "  hypocrite  "  broke 
through  them. 

But  James  did  not  hear  it,  he  had  turned  to  enter  the 
hotel.  Ralph  followed  him,  growing  paler  and  paler  as  he 
walked.  The  bitter  wrath  that  had  been  for  a  moment  dis- 
turbed was  concentrating  itself  at  his  heart  again. 

They  entered  James  Harrington's  room,  a  small  cham- 
ber in  the  highest  story  of  the  hotel,  and  both  sat  down. 

"  Now,"  said  James,  kindly,  "  tell  me  why  it  is  that  yon 
are  so  changed.  I  scarcely  know  you  with  that  look, 
Ralph." 

"  I  scarcely  know  myself  with  these  feelings,"  cried  the 
youth,  smiting  his  breast  in  a  sudden  storm  of  passion. 
"  Oh !  James,  James  !  how  could  you  be  so  generous,  so 
kind  to  a  poor  fellow  only  to  plunder  and  crush  him  at  last  ? 
What  had  I  done  that  you  should  tear  up  my  youth  by  the 
roots,  just  as  it  began  to  feel  the  warmth  of  life  ?  " 

"  Ralph,  are  you  mad  ?  " 


Mabels   Mistake.  397 

"  It  is  not  your  fault  or  hers  if  I  am  not  mad,"  was  the 
bitter  reply. 

"  Or  hers  ! "  repeated  Harrington,  turning  deathly  white, 
"or  hers — who  are  you  speaking  of?  " 

"  Of  the  woman  we  both  love.  I  cannot  speak  her  name 
to  you.  How  dare  you  brand  that  noble  creature  with 
shame,  after  using  the  privileges  of  my  father's  house  to 
win  her  love  ?  Was  it  not  enough  that  you  had  stolen  her 
heart  from  me — from  us  all  ?  Could  nothing  but  her  dis- 
grace content  your  horrible  vanity  ?  " 

"  Ralph,  Ralph,  in  the  name  of  Heaven,  what  is  this  ?  " 
cried  Harrington,  starting  up  with  an  outcry  of  terrible 
agony,  which  whitened  his  face  to  the  lips. 

"  What  is  this  !  "  thundered  Ralph,  "  are  you  detected 
at  last  ?  arch  hypocrite,  that  you  are — desecrating  the  roof 
that  you  should  have  upheld,  leaving  traces  of  your  wicked- 
ness on  every  thing  that  ever  loved  you.  I  ask  you  again, 
why  did  you  seek  her  love  ?  why,  having  won  it,  did  you 
leave  her  to  shame  ?  " 

"  Ralph,  speak  briefly  and  clearly — what  is  it  you  mean  ? 
has  your  father  put  this  cruel  charge  against  me  into  your 
mind?  No  more  hints,  no  more  vague  upbraidings — out 
with  it  at  once — what  do  you  charge  me  with  ?  " 

Ralph  did  not  speak,  there  was  a  grandeur  of  passion  in 
the  man  that  held  him  silent. 

"  In  the  name  of  God,  speak  ! "  cried  the  brother,  "  you 
are  killing  me." 

He  spoke  truly  ;  no  human  strength  could  long  have 
withstood  the  strain  of  anxiety  that  cramped  his  features 
almost  into  half  their  size,  and  made  his  strong  hands 
quiver  like  reeds. 

"  In  the  name  of  God,  speak ! "  he  cried  out  again  ;  "  of 
what  do  they  charge  me  ?  " 

"  I  charge  you,"  said  Ralph,  in  a  faltering  voice,  for  the 
power  of  that  man's  innocence  was  upon  him  as  he  spoke  j 
"  I  charge  you  with  the  ruin  of  the  purest  and  noblest" — 


398  Mabefs  Mistake. 


"  Euin  ! — who  dares  "- 


"  Yes,  ruin — has  she  not  left  my  father's  roof,  followed 
you  into  this  miserable  city — left  us  all,  refusing  to  go 

back" 

"  Boy,  boy,  she  has  not — she  has  not.  God  help  us  all, 
she  has  not  done  this.  Your  father  is  pledged,  solemnly 
pledged  against  it.  Ralph,  my  dear  boy,  there  is  some 
mistake  here  ;  she  cannot  be  so  desperate." 

"  She  left  home  on  the  very  day  with  yourself,  in  the 
storm,  when  the  snow  and  the  ice  cut  one  to  the  heart." 

"Yes,  I  remember;  the  storm  seemed  of  a  piece  with 
the  rest ;  a  hopeful  heart  would  have  frozen  in  it.  I 
remember  that  storm  well." 

"But  she  has  greater  cause  to  remember  it,  for  in  its 
drifts  was  buried  her  good  name  forever ;  if  it  could  have 
whitened  over  the  infamy  that  fell  on  our  house,  I  should 
have  prayed  the  snows  to  be  eternal ! " 

"  Ealph,  Kalph,  this  is  terrible ! " 

"  Terrible  ! "  repeated  the  young  man,  "  you  should  have 
thought  how  terrible  before  tempting  that  poor  young 
creature  to  her  ruin.  The  house  is  desolate  as  the  grave. 
My  mother  wanders  through  it  like  a  ghost ;  she  is  worn  to 
a  shadow  mourning  over  the  ruin  of  her  child,  for  Lina  was 
dear  as  her  own  child  could  " 

James  Harrington  struggled  for  voice  ;  his  pale  features 
began  to  quiver ;  his  lips  parted  ;  he  grasped  Kalph  by  the 
arm. 

"  Brother,  brother,  is  it  Lina  who  has  left  home  ?  " 

"  Lina — yes." 

James  Harrington  dropped  into  his  chair  without  utter- 
ing a  word ;  and,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  Ilalph  saw 
great  tears  rush  to  his  eyes. 

"  Oh,  my  God  !  make  me,  make  me  grateful ! "  he  cried, 
and  a  great  shudder  of  joy  shook  his  soul.  "  Ralph  Har- 
rington, you  will  never  know  how  great  a  blessing  your 
words  have  been  to  me." 


Mabel 's  Mistake.  399 

Ralph  stood  by,  amazed.  The  face  of  his  brother  looted 
like  that  of  a  glorified  saint.  There  was  no  guilt  in  him ; 
the  young  man  felt  this  in  the  depths  of  his  soul ;  wrong 
there  certainly  was  somewhere,  but  not  in  the  great-hearted 
man  before  him. 

"Brother,"  said  James,  arousing  himself,  and  reaching 
forth  his  hand,  "  now,  tell  me  what  this  trouble  is.  I  can 
listen  like  a  man — has  Lina  left  her  home  ?  poor  child,  she 
loved  you,  Ralph — what  drove  her  away  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know — till  now  " 

"  You  thought  it  was  me.  Shame  on  it,  Ralph,  I  did  not 
think  you  would  believe  ill  of  me."  The  tear  that  quivered 
on  that  young  cheek,  proved  that  at  least  "  lost  faith  "  had 
been  restored  to  him.  "  Come,"  said  James  Harrington, 
warmly  shaking  the  hand  in  his,  "let  us  search  out  this 
good  child,  and  save  her." 

"She  will  not  be  saved — she  refuses  to  go  home,"  an- 
swered Ralph,  sadly. 

"  Not  so,  not  so — have  more  faith,  my  boy.  There  is 
something  here  which  we  do  not  understand,  but  not  guilt, 
certainly  not  her  guilt — did  not  your  mother  guide  her  up 
from  the  cradle  almost  ?  besides  that,  does  she  not  love  you 
with  her  whole  heart,  and  that  is  not  a  little  ?  Tell  me 
where  to  find  her,  and  I  will  soon  tear  out  the  heart  of  this 
mystery.  I  am  strong  now,  Ralph,  and  feel  as  if  mountains 
would  be  nothing  in  my  way.  Come." 

And  Ralph  went  hopefully  forth  with  his  brother. 


CHAPTER  LXXIV. 

GENERAL   HARRINGTON'S    SECRET. 

HARRINGTON  and  Ralph  stood  opposite  Zillah's  house, 
pausing  for  a  moment's  conversation  before  they  went  in. 
25 


400  MabeFs  Mistake. 

"  No,"  said  Ralph,  earnestly,  "  do  not  ask  it ;  I  vf  ill  not 
give  even  this  evidence  of  a  doubt  which  1  never  can  feel 
again.  Go  yourself,  and  see  her  alone.  Learn,  if  possible, 
by  what  evil  influence  she  has  been  wiled  from  her  home. 
If  she  has  fled  to  escape  the  importunity  of  my  love,  tell  her 
to  fear  it  no  more  ;  I  will  leave  the  country — do  anything 
rather  than  stand  in  the  way  of  her  return  to  my  mother." 

Harrington  wrung  the  hand  which  Ralph  had  in  his 
earnestness  extended. 

"  Wait  at  the  hotel,"  he  said ;  "  in  an  hour  expect  me 
with  news.  I  will  not  leave  the  poor  child  till  her  secret  is 
mine.  Be  hopeful,  Ralph,  for  I  tell  you  Lina  is  an  honest, 
good  girl,  and  a  little  time  will  make  it  all  clear." 

"  God  grant  that  we  do  not  deceive  ourselves ! "  said 
Ralph,  hopefully.  "I  will  wait  for  you,  but  it  will  be  a 
terrible  hour,  James." 

"  But  such  hours  go  by  like  the  rest,"  answered  Harring- 
ton, with  a  grave  smile ;  "you  will  learn  this  in  time." 

With  these  words,  James  Harrington  crossed  the  street, 
and  entered  Zillah's  house. 

Ralph  watched  him  till  the  door  closed,  and  then  walked 
slowly  back  to  the  hotel. 

Harrington  was  right — such  hours  do  go  by  like  the  rest ; 
those  that  are  tear-laden  toil  on  a  little  slower  than  such  as 
are  bright  with  smiles,  but  the  eternity  which  crowds  close 
upon  them  receives  both  alike,  and  they  float  away  into  the 
past,  mistily  together. 

In  less  than  the  given  time,  James  Harrington  came 
back,  but  his  step  was  heavy  as  he  mounted  the  stairs,  and 
a  look  of  haggard  trouble  hung  upon  his  brow.  Ralph  felt 
his  breath  come  painfully ;  he  dared  not  speak,  for  never  in 
his  life  had  he  felt  such  awe  of  the  man  before  him.  At 
length  he  drew  close  to  James,  and  whispered  : 

"  One  word,  only  one  :  is  she  lost  ?  " 

"Ralph"  said  Harrington,  drawing  a  hand  across  his 


Mabel's   Mistake.  401 

forehead  once  or  twice,  as  if  to  sweep  away  some  pain  that 
ached  there,  "  I  am  at  a  loss  what  to  say  !  " 

Ralph  turned  white  and  drew  hack. 

"  No,  no,  it  is  not  as  you  think.  The  sweet  girl  is 
blameless  as  the  angels,  hut  she  is  hound  hy  promises  and 
obligations  that  even  I  cannot  feel  free  to  fling  aside  ;  yet 
this  secrecy  can  only  end  in  pain.  It  is  my  duty,  at  any 
risk,  to  free  her  name  from  reprOach.  Ralph,  I  have  some- 
thing very  distressing  to  tell  you,  and  it  must  he 
told."  ^ 

"  If  Lina  is  innocent,  if  she  loves  me,  all  else  is 
nothing ! "  answered  Ralph,  with  enthusiasm.  "  Oh, 
James,  you  have  made  a  man  of  me  once  more !  " 

"  This  hopefulness  pains  me,  Ralph." 

"  How  ?  Did  you  not  charge  me  to  keep  hopeful  ?  did 
you  not  tell  me  that  Lina  was  blameless?  While  I  can 
respect,  love — nay,  adore  her — what  else  has  the  power  to 
wound  me  ? " 

James  Harrington  shrank  back,  and  his  face  flushed. 

"  Hush  !  hush  !  these  words  are  too  ardent — they  wound, 
they  repulse  me !  If  you  guessed  all  that  I  know,  your 
own  heart  would  recoil  from  them." 

"  Guessed  all  that  you  know  ! — well,  speak  out.  It  must 
be  something  terrible,  indeed,  if  it  prevents  me  loving  her, 
after  what  you  have  already  said." 

James  Harrington  hesitated ;  looked  wistfully  at  the 
eager  face  turned  full  of  inquiry  to  his,  and  at  last  said,  in 
a  low,  almost  solemn  voice  : 

"  Ralph,  Lina  is  your  father's  daughter." 

"My  father's  daughter?"  cried  Ralph,  aghast;  "my 
father's  daughter ! " 

"  He  told  her  so  with  his  own  lips,  binding  her  by  a 
promise  not  to  reveal  the  secret  to  us.  Poor  thing,  it  was 
too  weighty  for  her  strength ;  she  grew  wild  under  it  and 
fled  to  the  woman  you  saw,  who  claims  to  be  her  mother." 


402  Makers  Mistake. 

"  Claims  to  be  her  mother  !     That  woman — it  is  false !  " 
"  I  fear  not,  Ralph  !     I  myself  recognized  that  woman  as 
a  beautiful  slave  whom  your  father  owned  when  my  own 

poor  mother  died.     She  has  changed  but" 

"  A  slave — Lina,  the  child  of  a  slave  ?  I  tell  you  it  is 
false ;  the  dews  of  heaven  are  not  more  pure  than  the  blood 
that  fills  those  blue  veins  ;  there  is  some  fraud  here  ! " 
cried  Ralph,  impetuously. ' 

"I  fear  not.  She  is  certain  of  it;  this  cruel  conviction 
is  killing  her.  But  for  her  feeble  state,  I  never  could  have 
won  her  secret.  Poor  child,  poor  child,  what  can  be  done 
for  her  ?  " 

Ralph  walked  the  room  impetuously,  beating  the  air 
with  his  hand  :  all  at  once  he  stopped — the  cloud  upon  his 
brow  cleared  away — his  lips  parted  almost  with  a  cry. 

"I  tell  you,  brother  James,  this  is  a  fraud,  to  which 
Lina's  face  alone  is  enough  to  give  the  lie !  Ask  Ben  Ben- 
son— only  ask  Ben,  he  is  truthful  as  the  sun ;  he  has 
known  her  from  the  cradle.  Ben  Benson  told  me  with  his 
own  lips,  that  Lina's  mother  was  dead  !" 

James  Harrington  became  excited ;  his  eye  kindled.        % 

"  Did  Ben  Benson  tell  you  this  ?  " 

"  He  did,  indeed ;  but  why  waste  time  in  guessing  ? 
Let  us  go  home ;  the  old  fellow  will  help  us  to  put  this 
right." 

James  hesitated,  and  shrunk  within  himself;  the  look  of 
pain  came  back  to  his  face,  and  he  answered  with  some  con- 
straint, that  the  steamer  sailed  for  Europe  on  the  morrow, 
and  his  passage  was  already  taken. 

Ralph  looked  astonished  and  distressed. 

"Would  you  leave  us  now?"  he  said,  reproachfully. 

James  remained  thoughtful  a  moment,  and  then  answered 
with  a  touch  of  mournfulness  : 

"  No,  I  will  remain  for  a  little  time.  So  long  as  I  am 
wanted,  it  must  be  so." 


MabeTs   Mistake.  403 

"  Then,  let  us  go  home  at  once." 

"  Yes,  it  is  a  duty ;  I  will  return  with  you,"  said  Har- 
rington, wifch  gentle  concession  ;  and,  spite  of  himself,  a 
gleam  of  pleasure  broke  into  his  eyes. 

"  Come,  then,  come  !  "  cried  Ralph,  impetuously.  "  I  can- 
not breathe  till  old  Ben  has  spoken.  Come  !" 

"  Have  patience,  Ealph ;  let  us  talk  this  matter  over 
more  quietly.  We  are  not  at  liberty  to  tell  this  painful 
secret  to  your  mother,  it  would  shock  her  too  much ; 
besides,  I  pledged  my  honor  to  the  poor  child  that  it  should 
not  be  done.  Let  me  find  General  Harrington,  and  learn 
the  whole  truth  from  him.  If  Lina  proves  to  be  your  sister 
— do  not  turn  so  pale,  my  dear  boy — if  she  proves  to  be 
this,  you  must  go  with  me  to  Europe,  and  learn  to  regard 
her  with  that  gentle  affection  which  becomes  these  new 
relations." 

"  I  tell  you,  Lina  is  not  my  sister ;  every  feeling  of  my 
soul  rises  up  to  contradict  it ! "  cried  the  youth,  impet- 
uously. "  General  Harrington  will  not  say  it." 

"Is  the  General  at  home  now?"  inquired  Harrington, 
with  a  gentle  wave  of  the  hand. 

"  No  ;  he  seldom  is,  of  late.  He  almost  lives  at  the  club- 
house." 

"  I  will  seek  him  there,"  said  Harrington  ;  "  come  with 
me." 

"  Not  on  this  errand,  James  ;  I  could  not  see  my  father, 
and  maintain  that  self-control  which  is  due  from  a  son  to 
his  parent.  His  sins  have  fallen  too  heavily  on  me  for 
that." 

"  You  are  right,  perhaps,"  answered  James,  thoughtfully. 
"  It  will  be  a  pa'inful  interview ;  but  for  her  sake  I  will 
undertake  it,  though  I  had  thought  all  subjects  of  this  kind 
were  at  an  end  between  General  Harrington  and  myself." 

Ralph  wrung  the  hand  extended  to  him,  and  the  two 
went  out,  each  taking  his  own  way. 


404  MabeFs   Mistake. 


CHAPTER  LXXV. 

THE   DESERTED    CHAMBER. 

MABEL  had  been  very  ill;  the  sense  of  humiliation,  the 
outrage  on  every  feeling  of  delicacy  that  had  beset  her 
after  the  fragments  of  that  vellum  book  were  placed  in  her 
hand,  fell  upon  her  strength  with  terrible  effect.  To  her- 
self, she  seemed  disgraced  forever ;  the  holiest  portion  of 
her  life  was  torn  away,  to  be  trodden  down  by  the  feet  of 
the  multitude.  No  sin,  however  heinous,  could  have  fallen 
upon  her  with  more  crushing  effect.  The  very  maturity  of 
age,  which  should  have  so  far  removed  her  from  the  romance 
of  love,  embittered  her  grief  by  a  sense  of  self-ridicule. 
At  times,  she  felt  like  reviling  and  scoffing  at  affections 
that  up  to  this  time  had  been  hoarded  away  from  her  own 
thoughts.  For  a  train  of  wrong  feelings,  unaccompanied 
by  a  single  false  act,  save  that  of  her  marriage,  she  was 
suffering  the  most  terrible  humiliation  before  God  and  her 
own  conscience. 

Is  it  strange  that  her  nerves,  so  long  excited  and  so 
delicate  in  themselves,  gave  way  at  last,  prostrating  her  to 
the  earth,  strengthless  as  a  child  ?  She  did  not  leave  her 
room,  she  scarcely  looked  up  when  the  servants  entered  it, 
and  was  so  broken  and  bowed  down  by  the  weight  of  her 
shame,  that  even  the  absence  of  her  son  was  disregarded. 
No  criminal  ever  shrank  from  the  face  of  man  more  sensi- 
tively than  this  high-souled  woman. 

It  annoyed  Mabel  to  see  any  one  enter  her  apartments. 
When  the  mulatto  chambermaid  came  there,  in  the  ordinary 
course  of  her  duties,  she  would  shrink  back  in  her  chair 
and  shade  her  eyes,  as  if  some  hideous  spectre  had  crossed 
her  path  ;  but,  if  Agnes  Barker  entered,  this  nervous  shock 
became  unendurable,  and  it  was  with  the  greatest  effort 


MabeFs  Mistake.  405 

that  she  could  refrain  from  rushing  madly  into  the  next 
room,  and  holding  the  door  against  her  intrusions. 

One  night — it  was  that  on  which  James  Harrington 
went  out  in  search  of  an  explanation  from  the  General — 
Mabel  was  more  terribly  oppressed  than  ever  ;  all  the  bitter 
recollections  of  a  most  tedious  life  crowded  upon  her  at 
once.  She  longed  to  flee  away  into  some  new  place,  where 
human  intrusion  would  be  impossible — and  yet  Agnes 
Barker  would  enter  the  room ;  again  and  again  she  saw 
the  poor  woman  wince  and  shiver  at  her  approach,  but  with 
malicious  servility  insisted  on  arranging  her  cushions,  and 
performing  all  those  little  services  which  are  so  sweet  when 
love  prompts  them,  yet  which  fall  upon  us  like  insults  when 
rendered  by  those  against  whom  our  natures  are  in  repul- 
sion. To  save  herself  from  this  officious  tending,  Mabel 
inquired  for  the  mulatto  woman,  preferring  her  presence  to 
the  endurance  of  attentions  so  oppressive. 

Agnes  smiled  sweetly  at  the  inquiry  :  "  but  the  chamber- 
maid had  gone  out,"  she  said,  "  and  might  not  be  back  till 
late  ;  meantime,  it  was  a  happiness  to  attend  madam — was 
the  cushion  comfortably  arranged?  should  she  move  the 
footstool  ?  " 

The  girl  sank  upon  her  knees,  and,  in  moving  the  otto- 
man, touched  Mabel's  foot  with  her  hand.  The  excited 
woman  sprang  up  with  a  shudder,  as  if  a  rattlesnake  had 
crept  across  her  ankles,  and,  unable  to  endure  the  presence 
of  her  tormentor  a  moment  more,  hurried  out  of  the  room. 

"  Is  there  no  place,"  she  said,  moving  wildly  forward 
"  no  place  in  which  I  can  hide  myself,  and  snatch  a 
moment's  rest?  Will  these  creatures  trail  themselves  in 
my  path  forever  and  ever ! " 

The  unhappy  woman  did  not  even  think  that  she  pos- 
sessed the  right  to  send  the  offensive  persons  at  any 
moment  from  her  presence ;  for,  since  the  discovery  of  her 
secret,  Mabel  no  longer  felt  that  she  was  the  mistress  of 


406  Mabel's   Mistake. 

these  people,  or  that  she  held  a  power  of  command  any- 
where. All  that  she  wished  was  to  hide  herself  from  every 
one.  Influenced  only  hy  this  unconquerable  desire,  she 
hurried  up  the  stairs,  and  taking  a  bronze  lamp  from  a 
statue  that  occupied  a  niche  in  the  first  landing,  went  for- 
ward till  she  came  to  the  door  of  a  chamber  that  had  been 
occupied  by  James  Harrington.  Here  a  gleam  of  intelli- 
gence shot  over  her  pale  face,  and  she  eagerly  tried  the 
lock.  It  yielded,  and,  drawing  a  quick  breath,  she  crossed 
the  threshold,  turning  the  key  which  had  been  left  inside 
with  an  impatient  violence,  and  looked  round  exultingly  at 
the  solitude  which  she  had  thus  insured. 

"  It  was  here,"  she  said,  looking  around  on  the  grate  and 
on  the  table,  while  her  pale  brow  darkened  and  her  lips 
began  to  tremble ;  "  it  was  here  that  he  burned  my  poor 
journal — here  that  he  tore  the  secret  from  my  soul,  while  I 
lay  sleeping  below.  After  this  cruel  pillage  of  my  life,  he 

fled  to  hide  the No,  no  !     Scorn  he  could  not  feel — 

hate,  pity,  anything  but  scorn  !     Let  me  search  if  any  ves- 
tige remains." 

She  bent  over  the  empty  grate,  peering  through  the 
polished  bars  with  keen  glances,  but  it  was  bare  and  cold ; 
not  an  ember  remained,  nor  a  grain  of  dust.  The  very 
ashes  of  her  book  had  been  cast  forth  with  the  common 
refuse.  The  table  was  empty,  not  a  paper  littered  it :  a 
bronze  standish,  in  which  the  ink  was  frozen  to  a  black  ice 
and  a  useless  pen  or  two,  alone  met  her  search  ;  all  was  in 
cruel  order.  The  bed,  with  its  unpressed  pillows  smooth  as 
iced  snow — the  easy-chair  wheeled  into  a  corner  of  the 
room — the  closed  shutters  without — everything  was  deso- 
late. 

Mabel  sat  down  upon  the  bed,  the  most  dreary  thing 
there  ;  she  looked  mournfully  around.  The  wild  eagerness 
died  out  of  her  features,  and  lowering  her  face  upon  the 
cold  pillow,  she  began  to  cry  like  a  child.  Directly  the  chill 


MabeCs  Mistake.  407 

of  the  night  struck  through  and  through  her.  She  shivered 
till  the  teeth  chattered  beneath  her  quivering  lips  ;  what 
with  grief,  cold,  and  exhaustion,  the  poor  lady  had  hecome 
helpless  as  infancy.  Forgetting  where  she  was,  and  care- 
less of  everything  on  earth,  she  gathered  the  hed-clothes 
slowly  around  her,  and  shuddered  herself  to  sleep. 


CHAPTER  LXXVI. 

THE   UNEXPECTED    KETUKN. 

As  General  Harrington  was  dining  at  his  club  that  day, 
a  note  was  sent  up  to  him ;  and,  as  his  meal  had  reached 
the  last  stage  of  a  luxurious  dessert,  he  quietly  broke  open 
the  envelope,  and  read  : 

"  James  Harrington  has  found  means  to  see  Lina,  and 
she  has  told  him  everything.  I  shall  await  you  here  during 
the  next  hour.  ZILLAH." 

The  General  crushed  this  note  slowly  in  his  hand,  a  quiet 
smile  stole  over  his  face,  and  sipping  his  wine  with  great 
complacency,  he  murmured: 

"  Well  ?  but  the  life  deeds  are  safe,  what  is  his  anger  to 
me?" 

But,  directly  a  less  pleasant  thought  forced  itself  on  his 
mind ;  he  remembered  that  the  deeds  he  exulted  over,  were 
only  binding  so  long  as  Mabel  Harrington  remained  con- 
tentedly beneath  his  roof.  What  if  James  should  take 
advantage  of  the  knowledge  obtained  from  Lina,  as  a  coun- 
terbalancing power  against  him?  What  if  Mabel  should 
at  once  use  that  knowledge  to  protect  herself,  and  by  suing 
out  a  divorce,  cast  all  the  shame  he  had  threatened  to  heap 
upon  her,  back  upon,  his  own  head?  Certainly,  James 


408  Mabels  Mistake. 

Harrington  would  not  fail  to  inform  her  of  the  powers  of 
retaliation  that  lay  within  her  grasp ;  perhaps  even  now  she 
knew  everything. 

He  started  up  from  the  table,  calling  for  his  furred 
paletot,  and  gave  orders  that  his  sleigh  and  horses  should 
be  brought  round.  The  well-bred  waiters,  whose  duty  it  was 
to  be  surprised  at  nothing,  were  evidently  astonished  at  these 
signs  of  agitation  in  the  most  urbane  and  reposeful  visitor 
at  the  club-rooms.  With  a  hurried  step  he  descended  to 
the  street,  stepped  into  his  sleigh,  buried  himself  to  the 
chin  in  furs,  and  the  driver  dashed  off  with  a  ringing  of 
bells  and  a  flourish  of  the  whip  around  his  horses'  ears,  that 
made  them  dance  like  Russian  leaders. 

The  day  was  growing  dusky,  and  General  Harrington 
urged  the  driver  on,  for  he  was  eager  to  reach  home  and 
have  an  interview  with  his  wife,  before  the  younger  Har- 
rington could  reveal  his  secret.  Trusting  much  to  Mabel's 
noble  powers  of  forgiveness,  and  more  to  the  allurements  of 
his  own  eloquence,  which  should  so  word  his  contrition  that 
it  would  be  sure  to  touch  a  nature  like  hers,  he  was  only 
anxious  to  forestall  her  anger  by  what  would  appear  to  be  a 
frank  confession  of  his  fault ;  thus,  by  throwing  himself 
upon  her  mercy,  and  challenging  the  generosity  which  had 
never  yet  failed  him,  he  hoped  to  retain  control  of  the 
wealth  which  had  become  doubly  important  from  the  lavish 
expenditure  of  the  last  few  weeks. 

Thus,  full  of  anxiety  and  terror  regarding  a  revelation 
that  James  Harrington  would  have  died  rather  than  make 
to  Mabel,  the  old  gentleman  dashed  on  toward  home,  eager 
to  be  in  advance  with  his  disgraceful  news. 

The  house  was  very  still  when  he  entered  it ;  faint  lights 
broke  through  the  library  windows  and  from  the  balcony  in 
front  of  Mabel's  boudoir,  but  the  rest  of  the  house  was  dark 
and  quiet  as  death.  General  Harrington  had  left  his  sleigh 
at  the  stables,  which  were  some  distance  from  the  house — 


Mabets  Mistake.  409 

thus  the  noise  of  his  arrival  was  iost  on  the  inmates  ;  and, 
as  he  let  himself  in  at  the  front  door  with  a  latch-key,  no 
one  was  aware  of  his  presence. 

Flinging  off  his  wrappers  in  the  hall,  he  looked  into  the 
usual  sitting-room  to  assure  himself  that  it  was  empty  ;  then 
going  to  his  own  room  long  enough  to  change  his  boots  for  a 
pair  of  furred  slippers,  he  went  at  once  to  Mabel's  boudoir. 
A  fire  burned  dimly  on  the  hearth,  and  over  the  table  hung 
a  small  alabaster  lamp,  that  seemed  full  of  imprisoned 
moonlight,  but  was  not  brilliant  enough  to  subdue  the  quiet 
shadows  that  lay  like  a  mist  all  around  the  room.  Mabel  was 
not  there,  and  the  General  sought  for  her  in  the  bed-cham- 
ber adjoining,  but  all  was  still ;  the  faint  light  that  stole  in 
from  the  alabaster  lamp,  revealed  a  snowy  night-robe  laid 
upon  the  bed,  and  everything  prepared  for  rest,  but  the 
lady  was  absent. 

"  Well,  well,"  muttered  the  old  gentleman,  drawing 
Mabel's  easy-chair  to  the  hearth,  and  warming  his  hands 
by  the  pleasant  fire,  "she  cannot  be  gone  far,  and,  at  any 
rate,  my  hopeful  step-son  will  find  himself  too  late  for  an, 
interview  to-night;  so  I  will  quietly  await  her  here. 
What  a  dreamy  place  it  is,  though ;  I  did  not  think  that  she 
possessed  so  much  of  the  philosophy  of  life ;  but  the 
strangeness  reminds  me  that  I  have  been  rather  too  negli- 
gent of  late.  No  matter,  she  will  only  be  the  more  ready 
to  welcome  me ;  for,  with  all  her  romance  and  journalizing, 
the  woman  loves  me :  I  was  sure  of  that,  even  while  push- 
ing the  hard  bargain  with  her  cavalier.  Faith,"  he  con- 
tinued,* rubbing  his  velvety  palms  together,  and  leaning 
toward  the  fire,  "  I  am  glad  she  did  not  happen  to  be 
present !  A  little  warmth  and  calm  thought  will  do  every- 
thing towards  preparing  me  for  the  interview." 

With  these  thoughts  running  through  his  mind,  the  old 
man — for  he  was  old,  spite  of  appearances — began  to  feel 
the  effects  of  a  long  ride  in  the  cold.  The  bland  warmth 


410  Motets   Mistake. 

of  the  fire  overcime  him  with  luxurious  drowsiness,  and  he 
would  have  dropped  to  sleep  in  his  chair,  but  that  it  afforded 
no  easy  rest  for  his  head,  which  fell  forward,  whenever  he 
sank  into  a  doze,  with  a  jerk  that  a\voke  him  very  un- 
pleasantly. 

"  I  wonder  Mrs.  Harrington  does  not  select  more  comfort- 
able chairs  for  her  room,"  he  muttered,  looking  around  un- 
easily for  something  more  commodious  to  rest  in.  "  I  will 
call  at  King's  to-morrow,  and  order  one  of  his  latest  inven- 
tions— a  Voltaire  or  Sleepy  Hollow ;  no  wonder  she  wanders 
off  for  better  accommodation.  The  fire  is  down  in  my 
library,  so  I  must  wait  for  her  here.  Let  me  see  if  there  is 
anything  more  promising  in  the  next  room. 

He  went  into  the  sleeping  chamber  as  he  spoke,  and 
threw  himself  upon  a  couch  near  the  window ;  but  it  was 
so  remote  from  the  fire  that  he  soon  grew  cold,  and  started 
up  again.  Removing  Mabel's  night  robe  from  the  bed,  he 
flung  himself  upon  it,  gathering  the  counterpane  over  him, 
and  burying  his  head  in  the  frilled  pillous. 

"  She  cannot  come  in  without  waking  me,  that  is  cer- 
tain," he  murmured,  dreamily ;  "  so  this  is  the  best  place 
to  wait  in.  I  did  not  think  the  cold  could  have  chilled  me 
through  all  those  furs.  Ah !  this  is  comfortable ;  I  can 
wait  for  madam  with  patience  now,  with,  wi " 

Spite  of  his  anxiety,  the  old  gentleman  dropped  off  to 
sleep  here,  with  a  luxurious  sense  of  comfort.  That  was  a 
quiet  and  profound  sleep,  notwithstanding  the  old  man  had 
many  sins  unrepented  of. 


Mabets  Mistake.  411 

CHAPTER  LXXVII. 

MOTHEK   AND    DAUGHTER, 

ABOUT  an  hour  after  General  Harrington  drove  up  to  his 
stables,  with  such  a  clash  of  bells,  and  stole  from  it  so 
noiselessly,  there  came  another  sleigh  along  the  high 
road,  the  very  one  which  had  borne  Lina  French  to  her 
wretched  city  home.  Noiselessly  as  it  had  moved  that 
stormy  night,  the  sleigh  crept  toward  General  Harrington's 
dwelling.  At  the  cross  of  the  roads  it  made  a  halt,  and 
out  from  the  pile  of  furs  stepped  a  female,  mantled  from 
head  to  foot,  who  set  her  foot  firmly  upon  the  snow,  and, 
with  a  wave  of  her  hand,  dismissed  the  sleigh,  which,  turn- 
ing upon  its  track,  glided  like  a  shadow  into  the  darkness 
again. 

The  woman  stood  still  till  the  sleigh  was  out  of  sight ; 
then  gathering  the  clcak  about  her,  walked  rapidly  towards 
the  house.  As  General  Harrington  had  done,  she  opened 
the  door  with  a  latch-key,  and  glided  into  the  darkened 
vestibule.  Her  tread  left  no  sound  on  the  marble,  and  she 
glided  on  through  the  darkness  like  a  shadow,  meeting  no 
one,  and  apparently  so  well  acquainted  with  the  building 
that  light  was  unnecessary.  At  length  she  paused  opposite 
a  door,  opened  it  cautiously,  and  entered  a  dusky  chamber, 
lighted  only  by  a  small  lamp  that  was  so  shaded  that  a 
single  gleam  of  light  shot  across  the  floor,  leaving  the  rest 
in  darkness.  A  bed  stood  in  this  room  with  a  low  couch, 
on  which  Agnes  Barker  was  sleeping.  The  woman  took 
up  the  lamp,  allowing  a  stream  of  light  to  fall  upon  her 
face,  at  the  same  moment  it  revealed  that  of  the  holder, 
which  shone  out  hard  as  iron,  and  with  a  grey  pallor  upon 
it. 

"  Is  it  you  ?  "  exclaimed  the  girl,  starting  up  and  putting 


412  Mabets   Mistake. 

back  the  hair  from  her  face.  "  Have  you  found  him  ? 
Has  he  returned  ?  Why  can't  you  speak  to  me  ?  Where 
is  Ralph  Harrington  ?  " 

"  Agnes  ! " 

"  Well,"  answered  the  girl,  impatiently. 

"It  is  useless  pursuing  this  infatuation  longer.  The 
time  has  come  when  you  must  learn  to  command  yourself. 
You  are  my  daughter ! " 

"  I  don't  believe  it !  "  answered  the  girl,  angrily. 

"  Have  you  ever  known  any  other  parent  ?  " 

"  I  never  had  any  parent ! " 

"  Who  placed  you  at  school  ?  who  paid  for  your  educa- 
tion?" 

"  I  don't  know — your  mistress,  I  dare  say,  who  was 
ashamed  of  my  birth,  and  made  you  her  agent.  I  have 
always  believed  so  and  believe  it  yet." 

"Agnes,  you  are  my  own  child.  I  call  on  Heaven  to 
•witness  it ! " 

"  I  am  not  fool  enough  to  believe  you." 
* "  You  would  have  the  poor  thing  separated  from  young 
Harrington,  and  I  had  no   other  way  of  appeasing  your 
unreasonable  demands,  being  your  mother." 

"Well,  at  any  rate  they  are  separated,  and  I  am  not 
married  to  James  the  millionaire,  which  was  your  wish ;  so, 
after  all,  I  do  not  come  out  second  best  in  a  fair  trial  of 
strength,  you  see." 

"  I  do  not  wish  your  marriage  with  James  Harrington, 
and  Ralph  you  can  never  hope  for." 

"  You  think  so ! "  answered  the  girl,  with  a  vicious  sneer. 
"  You  fancy  that  one  rebuff  will  crush  me.  I  neither  know 
nor  care  who  told  you  that  he  has  met  my  love  with  scorn, 
fled  my  presence  as  if  I  were  a  viper  on  his  father's  hearth. 
I  tell  you  he  shall  return.  I  have  a  will  that  shall  yet 
bend  his  love  to  mine  though  it  were  tougher  than  iron. 


MabeVs  Mistake.  413 

Woman,  I  say  again,  Ealph  Harrington  shall  yet  be  my 
lawfully  wedded  husband  ! " 

"  Girl,  I  tell  you  again,  and  with  far  better  reasons,  it 
can  never  be  ! "  cried  Zillah,  towering  over  her  as  she  sat 
upon  the  couch. 

"  It  shall  be  !  "  almost  hissed  the  girl,  meeting  the  black 
eyes  bent  upon  her  with  glances  of  sullen  wrath. 

"Not  till  the  laws  permit  brothers  and  sisters  to  marry ! " 
answered  Zillah.  "  For  I  call  upon  the  living  God  to  wit- 
ness that  you  are  General  Harrington's  child  ! "  Her  face 
hardened  and  grew  white,  as  the  secret  burst  from  her  lips  ; 
for  she  saw  the  shudder  and  heard  the  shriek  that  broke 
from  her  child. 

"  His  and  yours  ?  "  questioned  Agnes,  pale  as  death. 

"  His  and  mine  !  " 

"  And  you  were  a  slave  ?  " 

"His  slave." 

Agnes  started  up,  tossing  her  hands  wildly  in  the  air. 

"  A  noble  parentage — a  thrice  noble  parentage  ! "  she 
cried  out,  hoarse  with  pain  and  rage.  "  The  child  of  a 
villain,  and  his  slave !  Woman,  I  could  tear  you  into 
atoms,  for  daring  to  pour  your  black  blood  into  my  life  !  " 

Zillah  drew  back,  pale  and  aghast.     She  could  not  speak. 

"  Ah,  now  I  know  why  this  flesh  crept,  and  the  blood  fell 
back  upon  my  heart,  when  that  vicious  old  man  was  near  ! 
My  life  rose  up  against  the  outrage  of  its  own  being.  I 
tell  you,  woman,  if  this  man  is  my  father,  I  hate  him ! " 

11  And  me,"  faltered  Zillah,  shuddering. 

"  And  you,  negro-slave  that  you  are." 

"  I  am  neither  a  negro  or  a  slave,"  answered  Zillah, 
recovering  a  portion  of  her  haughtiness ;  "  the  taint  of  my 
blood  has  died  out  in  yours.  Look  on  me,  unfeeling  girl, 
and  say  where  you  find  a  trace  of  the  African — not  in  this 
hair,  it  is  straight  and  glossy  as  Mabel  Harrington's — not 
on  my  foreheai,  see  how  smooth  it  is — not  in  my  heart  or 


414  Mabels   Mistake. 

brain,  for  when  did  an  African  ever  have  the  mind  to 
invent,  or  the  courage  to  carry  out,  the  designs  that  fill  my 
brain  ?  I  tell  you,  girl,  your  mother  has  neither  the  look 
nor  the  soul  of  a  slave ;  but  she  has  will,  and  power,  and  a 
purpose,  too,  that  shall  lift  her  child  so  high,  that  the 
whitest  woman  of  her  father's  race  will  yet  be  proud  to 
render  her  homage  !  " 

"  Dreaming,  dreaming  ! "  exclaimed  Agnes,  scornfully. 


CHAPTEK  LXXVIII. 

A    STOBMY    PARTING. 

ZILLAH  drew  her  tall  form  to  its  full  height. 

"  Dreaming ! "  she  said.  "  No.  This  is  the  time  for  us  to 
act ;  no,  not  us — you  shall  have  nothing  of  this  but  the 
advantage.  You  are  my  child,  his  child,  and  I  love  you ; 
therefore,  let  all  the  risk,  and  sin,  and  pain  be  mine.  You 
shall  have  nothing  but  the  power  and  the  gold.  Listen, 
girl,  you  should  not  marry  James  Harrington,  now,  though 
he  wished  it ;  he  is  no  match  for  you — he  is  penniless  as 
this  boy  Ralph,  your  half-brother.  Do  not  shrink  and  look 
at  me  so  wildly,  but  learn  to  hear  the  truth.  This  boy  is 
your  brother,  and  his  son ;  for  that  reason  he  must  not 
want,  when  you  and  I  have  our  rights ;  out  of  the  property 
which  was  once  James  Harrington's,  we  must  persuade  tho 
General  to  give  the  young  man  a  few  thousands ;  as  for 
James,  let  him  remain  the  beggar  his  romantic  folly  has 
left  him. 

"  Agnes,  your  father,  General  Harrington — your  father ! 
impress  the  word  on  your  soul,  child — your  father  is  now 
master  of  everything ;  while  he  lives,  James  Harrington  is 
penniless.  To-morrow,  we  shall  reign  in  Mabel  Harring- 


Mabel's   Mistake.  415 

ton's  house.  You  look  surprised,  you  ask-  me  how  a*l  this 
has  been  brought  about.  Listen :  you  remember  the  vellum 
book  which  you  stole  for  me,  out  of  her  escritoire.  Well,  it 
contained  many  secrets,  but  not  the  one  I  wanted  most — 
not  enough  to  make  Mabel  Harrington  an  outcast.  I  lived 
with  her  in  her  youth,  and  knew  how  much  she  loved  this 
priestly  Harrington — and,  when  his  mother  died,  hoped 
that  he  would  marry  her ;  but  she  was  too  wealthy.  The 
General  wanted  her  money,  and,  in  defiance  of  my  anger 
and  my  tears,  made  her  his  wife.  I  rebelled,  threatened, 
grew  mad,  and  to  save  himself,  this  man,  whom  I  loved 
better  than  my  own  soul,  persuaded  me  back  to  the  planta- 
tion, and  sold  me  !  You  turn  pale,  even  you  look  shocked. 
For  a  time,  I  could  have  torn  him  to  atoms,  like  a  tiger 
when  food  is  scarce  ;  for  the  love  that  had  been  so  deep  and 
fiery,  turned  to  hate :  but  wrong  does  not  uproot  a  passion 
like  mine.  He  had  sold  me  into  a  double  bondage — his 
child  was  the  slave  of  another  man  ;  yet  every  wish  of  my 
soul  struggled  to  his  feet  again — in  that  I  was  a  slave. 

"  Yes,  bend  your  eyes  upon  me,  and  curve  your  lips  with 
that  unspoken  taunt ;  at  least,  I  was  not  the  slave  of  a  boy  ! 
Sit  still,  sit  still,  I  say !  it  is  no  use  flinging  your  tiger 
glances  at  me  ;  I  have  no  time  for  quarreling.  While  I 
was  his  slave,  General  Harrington's  liberality  had  no 
bounds,  and,  dreading  the  time  when  it  might  cease,  I 
hoarded  a  large  sum  of  money,  more  than  enough  to  buy 
myself  a  dozen  times  over.  I  was  about  to  enter  into  a 
bargain  with  my  new  master  for  myself  and  child,  when  he 
died,  setting  us  free  by  his  will. 

"  I  waited,  worked,  saved,  adding  gold  to  gold,  till  years 
came  between  me  and  the  man  who  had  owned  and  sold 
me  ;  dulling  the  influence  of  that  woman,  and  turning  my 
passion  into  a  power. 

"  At  first,  I  intended  to  introduce  you  into  this  house,  and 
marry  you  to  James   Harrington — thus   ensuring  a  high 
26 


416  MabeTs  Mistake. 

position  to  my  child,  depriving  Mabel  of  a  protector,  and 
sweeping  away  General  Harrington's  sources  of  wealth  at 
the  same  time.  Then,  while  stripped  of  the  luxuries  he 
loves  so  well,  my  hoarded  gold  would  have  paved  my  way 
back  to  his  favor ;  but  you,  ever  perverse,  ever  disobedient, 
became  infatuated  with  this  boy,  Mabel  Harrington's  son, 
and  thus  defeated  a  plan  that  this  brain  had  been  weaving 
for  years.  You  had  stolen  the  book,  that  was  something ; 
but  your  perverse  fancy  rendered  new  complications  neces- 
sary, and,  to  keep  you  quiet,  I  was  compelled  to  cumber 
myself  with  that  poor  girl,  to  lie,  and  almost  betray  my- 
self. 

"  Be  quiet,  and  listen.  The  book  was  incomplete,  but  I 
had  studied  Mabel  Harrington's  writing  well  in  my  youth  ; 
she  had  left  blank  pages  here  and  there  in  her  journal ;  / 
filled  them  up ;  he  read  them ;  all  would  have  gone  well — 
she  would  have  been  degraded,  turned  out  of  doors,  but  for 
the  mad  generosity  of  James  Harrington.  I  listened,  and 
saw  that  all  was  lost ;  that  the  journal  would  be  given  up 
to  him,  and  the  falsehood  of  those  pages  made  known.  I 
tore  them  out,  and  with  them  other  pages  that  have  since 
served  a  good  purpose.  Listen,  still,  for  I  have  no  time. 
To-day,  James  Harrington  came  to  the  house  in  my 
absence,  and  had  a  conversation  with  Lina ;  what  it  was,  I 
do  not  know,  but  it  may  put  us  in  this  woman's  power. 
Before  morning,  this  battle  must  be  over." 

"  Great  heavens  !  "  exclaimed  Agnes,  with  a  fresh  burst 
of  passion,  so  absorbed  by  her  own  thoughts  that  she  disre- 
garded the  purport  of  Zillah's  words.  "His  child,  his 
sister,  and  the  tool  of  a  slave, — a  noble  burden  this,  to 
carry  on  through  life  !  " 

She  arose  and  walked  toward  the  door,  pale  as  death,  and 
with  her  teeth  clenched. 

"  Where  are  you  going  ?  "  inquired  Zillah. 

"Into  the  cold,  where  I  can  breathe.  Do  not  speak. 
Let  me  go  I n 


Mabel's   Mistake.  417 

"  But  not  down  stairs — not  into  her  room !  " 

"  I  tell  }«>u,"  answered  the  girl,  hoarse  with  passion,  tt  I 
tell  you  that  it  is  air,  space,  a  storm,  a  whirlwind  that  I 
want ;  nothing  else  will  give  back  the  breath  to  my 
lungs ! " 

She  went  out  fiercely,  like  the  tempest  her  evil  heart 
evoked. 

For  an  instant  the  woman  Zillah  stood  still,  looking  after 
her ;  then  she  rushed  to  the  door,  and  called  out  in  a  loud 
whisper ; 

"Agnes,  Agnes,  come  back  ! " 

But  the  call  was  too  late.  Like  a  black  shadow,  Agnes 
Barker  had  passed  out  of  the  house. 

Zillah  reentered  the  room,  looking  so  white  that  you 
would  not  have  known  the  face  again.  She  turned  the  gas 
full  upon  her,  and,  taking  a  bowl  from  the  cabinet,  poured 
some  colored  liquid  into  it.  She  placed  the  bowl  upon  the 
floor,  and,  kneeling  by  it,  began  to  lave  her  hands,  neck,  and 
face  in  the  liquid,  leaving  them  of  a  nutty  darkness.  Then 
she  opened  the  window,  flung  out  the  dye  she  had  used, 
and  proceeded  to  put  on  a  front  of  woolly  hair,  tangled  with 
grey,  over  which  a  Madras  'kerchief  was  carefully  folded. 
One  by  one  she  removed  be.  rich  garments,  and  directly 
stood  out  in  dress,  gait,  and  action,  the  colored  chamber- 
maid who  had  for  months  infested  Mabel  Harrington's 
home. 

The  woman  went  out  from  the  room,  locking  the  door 
after  her.  She  must  have  been  very  pale,  though  the  color 
upon  her  face  revealed  no  trace  of  this  white  terror:  but 
her  limbs  shook,  her  knees  knocked  together,  and  her  wild 
eyes  grew  fearful  as  she  paused  in  the  hall,  looking  up  and 
down,  to  see  if  it  was  emptj',  before  she  moved  away. 

The  moment-  Zillah  left  her  chamber  door,  all  became 
dark  in  the  hall,  for  she  concealed  the  light  in  passing,  and 
moved  away  as  her  daughter  had  done,  still  and  black,  like 
a  retreating  cloud. 


418  Mabefs   Mistake. 

When  Zillah's  face  was  again  revealed,  it  was  far  down 
in  the  coal  vaults  under  the  house.  She  wae  upon  her 
knees,  filling  a  small  iron  furnace  with  lumps  of  charcoal, 
which  she  dropped  one  by  one  on  a  handful  of  embers  that 
glowed  in  the  bottom,  as  she  had  found  them  after  late  use 
in  the  laundry.  As  she  dropped  the  coal,  Zillah  looked 
fearfully  about  from  time  to  time ;  and  once,  when  a  mouse 
scampered  across  the  floor  close  by  her,  she  started  up  with 
a  smothered  shriek ;  but,  even  in  her  terror,  blew  out  the 
lamp,  which  rattled  in  the  darkness  some  moments  after, 
notwithstanding  the  efforts  that  she  made  to  still  her  shak- 
ing hands. 

At  last  she  struck  a  match,  and  kindled  the  light  once 
more,  and  fell  to  work  again.  A  minute  sufficed  to  heap  the 
little  furnace,  and  a  faint  crackling  at  the  bottom  gave 
proof  that  the  living  embers  underneath  were  taking  effect. 
When  satisfied  of  this,  she  put  out  her  lamp,  took  up  the 
furnace,  and,  though  it  was  still  hot  from  recent  use,  placed 
one  hand  over  the  draft,  that  the  fire  might  not  ignite  too 
rapidly,  and  crept  out  of  the  cellar.  Any  person  awake  in 
the  house,  might  have  traced  the  dark  progress  of  this 
woman  by  a  faint  crackle,  and  the  sparks  that  shot  now  and 
then  up  through  the  black  mass  of  coal,  which  was  kindling 
so  fast,  that  the  hand  which  she  still  kept  upon  the  draft 
was  almost  blistered. 

She  moved  along  the  hall,  noiselessly  and  rapid  as  death. 
The  sparks  that  leaped  up  from  the  furnace,  gave  all  the 
light  she  had,  and  more  than  she  desired ;  for  many  a  time 
before  had  she  threaded  the  same  passage,  rehearsing  the 
terrible  deed  she  was  enacting.  She  paused  directly  in 
front  of  Mabel  Harrington's  boudoir,  and  laid  her  hand 
upon  the  latch  without  a  moment's  search,  as  if  it  had  been 
broad  daylight. 

She  did  not  pause  in  the  boudoir,  but  stole  through,  shud- 
dering beneath  the  pale  light  of  that  alabaster  lamp,  as  if 
it  had  distilled  poison  over  her. 


Mabefs   Mistake.  419 

There  was  no  stir  in  the  chamber  when  she  entered  it. 
The  low  regular  breathing  of  some  one  asleep  upon  the  bed 
which  stood  entirely  in  shadow,  was  all  the  sound  that 
reached  her  when  she  paused  to  listen.  From  without  she 
could  hear  nothing,  not  even  the  sharp  whisperings  of  the 
wind ;  for  that  day  her  own  hands  had  calked  the  windows 
with  singular  care,  and  besides  that,  rich  curtains  muffled 
them  from  floor  to  ceiling. 

Zillah  dared  not  look  toward  the  bed,  but  with  the 
stealthy  movements  of  a  panther  she  crept  to  the  fire-place 
sealed  up  with  a  marble  slab,  and  placing  the  furnace  on 
the  hearth,  slunk  away  from  the  chamber  and  through  the 
boudoir,  closing  both  doors  cautiously  behind  her. 

After  that,  she  staggered  away  into  the  darkness. 


CHAPTER  LXXIX 

UNDER  THE  ICE. 

AGNES  BARKER  rushed  into  the  cold  night  so  wrathfully 
that  even  the  shadow  that  followed  her  seemed  vital  with 
hate.  On  they  walked  together — the  girl  and  this  weird 
shadow — blackening  the  snow  with  momentary  darkness  as 
they  passed ;  the  one  tossing  out  her  arms  with  unconscious 
gesticulation,  the  other  mocking  her,  grotesquely,  from  the 
crusted  snow. 

She  descended  from  the  eminence  upon  which  the  house 
stood,  into  the  hollow  where  Lina  and  Ralph  had  paused  on 
the  first  day  of  their  confessed  love.  Over  the  spot  made 
holy  by  the  feelings  of  this  beautiful  epoch,  she  trod  her 
way  in  mad  haste,  reckless  of  the  cold,  which,  but  for  the 
fiery  strife  within,  must  have  pierced  her  to  the  vitals ; 
Zillah  had  aroused  her  from  sleep  but  half-robed — her  dress 


420  MabeTs   Mistake. 

had  been  loosened  as  she  lay  down,  and  the  sharp  wind 
lifted  particles  of  snow  with  every  gust,  sweeping  them  into 
her  bosom  and  over  her  uncovered  head.  Neither  shawl 
nor  mantle  shielded  her,  but  thus  all  exposed  as  she  had 
risen  from  her  sleep,  she  rushed  on,  mad  as  a  wild  animal 
which  save  in  form,  for  that  fatal  moment,  she  was. 

The  snow  upon  the  hills,  drifted  its  white  carpet  out  upon 
the  Hudson,  and  even  in  the  day  time  a  practised  eye  only 
could  tell  where  the  shore  ended,  and  the  water  commenced. 
Agnes  had  no  motive  for  crossing  the  river,  and,  for  a  time, 
she  kept  along  the  bank,  going  nearer  and  nearer  to  Ben 
Benson's  boat-house,  but  perfectly  regardless  of  that  or  any- 
thing else. 

As  she  came  out  from  among  the  evergreens  close  by 
Ben's  retreat,  a  light,  gleaming  through  its  window,  made 
her  halt  and  swerve  toward  the  river.  Any  vestige  of 
humanity  was  hateful  to  her  then,  and  she  was  glad  to 
plunge  into  the  cold  winds  which  swept  down  the  channel 
of  the  stream,  that,  lacking  all  other  opponents,  she  might 
wrestle  with  them. 

Out  she  went  upon  the  sheeted  river.  It  was  white  some 
distance  from  the  shore,  but  in  the  centre  lay  a  space  of 
blue  ice,  with  a  surface  like  polished  steel,  and  a  deep,  swift 
current  rushing  beneath.  This  frozen  channel  took  an  un- 
natural darkness  from  the  gleam  of  snow  on  either  side. 
Toward  this  black  line  the  girl  made  her  way,  trampling 
down  the  snow  like  an  enraged  lioness,  and  laughing  back 
a  defiance  to  the  winds  as  they  drifted  cutting  particles  of 
snow  into  her  face  and  through  the  loose  tresses  of  her 
hair. 

It  was  in  her  face,  this  keen  wind,  beating  against  her, 
and  closing  the  eyes  which  rage  had  already  rendered  blind. 
She  left  the  snow  and  struck  out  upon  the  ice.  That 
instant  a  cloud  swept  over  the  moon.  Her  shadow  forsook 
her  then — even  her  shadow !  A  step,  a  hoarse  plunge,  and 


Makers  Mistake.  421 

a  piercing  cry  rushed  up  from  that  break  in  the  ice,  a  cry 
that  cut  through  the  air  sharper  than  an  arrow,  piercing 
far  and  wide  through  the  cold  night !  Then  the  moon  came 
out,  and  revealed  a  ghastly  face  low  down  in  the  blackness, 
and  two  hands  grasping  the  ragged  edges  of  the  ice,  slip- 
ping away — clutching  out  again,  and  still  again,  so  fiercely, 
that  drops  of  blood  fell  after  them  into  the  dark  current  be- 
neath. Still  the  white  face  struggled  upward  through 
masses  of  wet  hair,  and  the  baffled  hands  groped  about 
fiercer,  but  more  aimlessly,  till  both  were  forced  away  be- 
neath the  ice,  sending  back  a  shriek  so  sharp  and  terrible 
that  it  might  have  aroused  the  dead ! — no,  not  the  dead, 
for  up  in  that  stately  mansion,  frowning  among  the  snows  a 
little  way  off,  a  human  soul  had  just  departed — nor  paused 
to  look  back,  though  the  existence,  which  was  its  own  great 
sin,  followed  close,  till  both  stood  face  to  face  before  the  God 
they  had  offended  ! 

But,  in  the  stillness  of  the  night,  and  in  the  depths  of  his 
honest  sleep,  Ben  Benson  heard  the  cry.  He  started  from 
his  bed,  hurriedly  dressed  himself,  and  went  out  in  great 
alarm,  listening,  as  he  went,  for  a  renewal  of  that  fierce 
cry ;  but,  though  he  reached  the  ice,  and  bent  over  the 
yawning  hole,  nothing  but  the  wail  of  the  winds,  and  the  rush 
of  waters  underneath,  met  his  ear.  Still,  as  he  peered 
down  into  the  darkness,  a  human  face  weltered  up  through 
the  waters.  Instantly,  Ben  threw  himself  upon  the  ice, 
plunged  his  arms  downward,  and  rose  staggering  to  his  feet. 
In  the  grasp  of  his  strong  hands,  he  drew  a  human  form 
half-way  upon  the  ice.  He  had  paused  for  breath,  but  hor- 
ror gave  him  double  strength  ;  and,  gathering  the  pale  form 
in  his  arms,  he  laid  it  upon  the  ice,  parting  the  long,  dark 
hair  reverently  with  his  hands,  and  leaving  the  marble  face 
bare  in  the  moonlight. 

"  Lord  a  mercy  on  us ! "  he  exclaimed,  stooping  over  the 
cold  form.  "  It's  the  young  governess,  dead  as  a  stone ! 


422  Mabels  Mistake. 

How  on  arth  did  she  get  here  ?  Not  a  purpose,  I  hope  to 
mercy;  it  wasn't  a  purpose.  Poor  critter,  if  it  hadn't  a 
been  that  the  ice  broke  just  here  in  the  eddy,  her  poor  body 
would  a  been  miles  down  stream  'fore  now.  Instead  of 
that,  she  was  sucked  under,  and  has  been  a  whirling  and  a 
whirling  the  Lord  of  heaven  only  knows  how  long — how 
long — Ben  Benson,  be  you  crazy  ?  Wasn't  it  her  scream 
as  woke  you  up  ?  Ma'  be  there's  a  spark  of  life  yet,  and 
you  a  talking  over  her  here.  Go  home,  you  old  heathen ; 
go  home  at  'onst.  Poor  young  critter,  I  didn't  like  you 
over  much,  but  now  I'd  give  ten  years  of  my  old  life  to  be 
sarten  there  was  a  drop  of  warm  blood  in  this  little 
heart!" 

Ben  knelt  over  the  governess  as  he  muttered  those  feeling 
words,  and  laid  his  great  kind  hand  over  the  heart,  but  the 
touch  made  even  his  strong  nerves  recoil. 

"It  ain't  a  beatin' — it  doesn't  stir — she  seems  to  be  a 
freezing  now  under  my  hand.  But,  I'll  try.  God  have 
mercy  on  the  poor  thing  !  I'll  try." 

Ben  took  the  body  in  his  arms,  and  carried  it  to  the  boat- 
house  ;  but  with  all  his  earnestness  and  strength,  he  had  no 
power  to  give  back  life,  where  it  had  been  so  rudely 
quenched.  Pure  or  not,  the  blood  in  those  veins  was  frozen 
to  ice,  and  though  Ben  heaped  up  wood  on  his  hearth  till 
the  flames  roared  up  the  wide-throated  chimney,  there  was 
not  heat  enough  to  thaw  a  single  drop.  At  last,  Ben  gave 
up  his  own  exertions,  and  laid  the  dead  girl  reverently  on 
his  own  couch;  kneeling  meekly  by  her  side,  and  then  he 
began  repeating  the  Lord's  Prayer  over  her  again  and 
again:  for,  when  the  boatman  was  in  great  trouble  he 
always  went  back,  like  a  little  child,  to  the  prayer  learned 
at  his  mother's  knee. 


Mabets  Mistake.  423 

CHAPTER  LXXX. 

WHO   WAS   LINA? 

THE  sound  of  sleigh-bells  stopping  suddenly  and  a  sharp 
knock  at  his  own  door,  aroused  Ben  from  his  mournful 
prayers.  He  got  up  and  turned  the  latch.  To  his  aston- 
ishment, it  was  broad  daylight.  The  persons  who  had 
aroused  him  were  James  and  Ralph  Harrington. 

"  Ben,"  said  Ralph,  stepping  eagerly  forward,  "  tell  us — 
repeat  to  James  what  you  refused  to  tell  Lina.  On  your 
life,  on  your  honor,  dear  old  Ben  :  tell  him  whose  child  she 
is." 

"  All  that  you  know  about  her.  I  am  sure  there  is  some- 
thing you  can  explain.  If  you  ever  loved  her  or  care  for  me, 
speak  out  now.  You  said  that  she  had  gone  off  because 
you  refused  to  tell  her  something." 

Ben  had  been  praying  in  the  presence  of  death,  and 
there  were  both  power  and  pathos  in  his  voice  as  he  clasped 
those  rough  hands  and  said : 

"  As  the  great  God  aloft  is  his  witness  !  Ralph  Harring- 
ton, Ben  Benson  spoke  nothing  but  the  truth  when  he  said 
that  ere." 

"  But  you  will  tell  us,  for  her  dear  sake,  you  will  tell  us." 

"  Yes,  Master  Ralph  I  will.  Jist  ask  what  you  want  to 
know,  and  I'll  tell  it." 

"  Who  was  she,  Ben  ?  I've  asked  my  mother  often,  but 
she  always  answered,  that  the  child,  while  a  mere  infant, 
was  seen  one  day  wandering  on  the  banks  of  the  river, 
quite  alone.  At  night,  she  came  up  to  the  house,  and  was 
found  asleep  on  the  door-step — from  that  day  to  this,  she 
has  never  been  inquired  after,  but  dropped  into  the  family 
naturally  as  a  pet-bird.  I  loved  her  the  better  for  having 
no  friends — for  belonging  entirely  to  us." 


424  Mabel's   Mistake. 

Ben  drew  the  back  of  one  hand  across  his  eyes  and  drop- 
ped into  his  lounging  attitude  again. 

"But,  yet,  she  had  one  friend,  Mister  Ralph." 

"And,  who  was  that?" 

"  Ben  Benson — as  carried  her  up  to  that  ere  identical 
door-step,  and  laid  her  down  like  the  hahes  in  the  woods — 
a  knowing  in  his  heart  all  the  time,  that  Mrs.  Harrington 
would  take  her  in  the  minute  she  sot  her  eyes  on  her  purty 
face." 

"  You  know  who  she  was,  then  ?  " 

"  I  ought  to,"  answered  Ben,  "  for  she  was  my  own 
sister's  child." 

"Your  sister's  child!" 

"  You  wouldn't  a  belaved  it ;  for  the  mother  of  that  gal 
was  like  a  water  lily,  fresh  from  the  pond,  when  I  run  away 
from  hum  and  went  to  sea." 

"  Well,"  said  Ralph,  breathless. 

"  The  old  man  died  a  little  while  after  I  ran  off,  and  so 
the  poor  little  thing  was  left  alone,  to  fight  her  way  through 
the  world.  She  had  more  laming  than  ever  could  be  drir 
into  my  brain,  and  went  into  a  rich  man's  family  to  larn  his 
children  their  letters.  There  was  a  young  feller  in  that 
house,  as  was  likewise  given  to  laming,  a  sickly,  pale  chap, 
just  a  going  into  consumption.  This  chap  loved  the 
orphan  gal,  and  as  her  hard-hearted  brother  had  deserted 
the  helm,  he  stepped  in  and  took  the  craft  amost  without  a 
summons." 

"They  got  married  somewhere  down  in  York,  and  in 
less  'en  three  months  arter,  the  poor,  young  feller  died — 
neither  on  'em  had  plucked  up  courage  enough  to  tell  the 
proud,  old  father,  and  the  young  man  was  took  off  so  sud- 
denly at  last,  that  he  hadn't  no  chance." 

"  Lizzy  was  obliged  to  speak  out  arter  this,  but  the  cer- 
tificate was  amongst  his  things,  and  the  old  folks  pretended 
that  it  never  could  be  found.  She  didn't  know  where  to 


MabeCs  Mistake.  425 

find  the  minister  as  married  'em,  and  so  her  husband's  own 
father  turned  her  out  of  doors.  When  I  came  ashore  two 
years  arter,  no  one  could  tell  me  where  she  had  gone ;  but 
a  few  months  arter  I  cast  anchor  in  this  ere  land-craft,  my 
poor  sister  came  here  one  night,  leading  a  toddling  little 
girl  by  the  hand.  That  gal  was  Lina.  My  sister's  face 
was  white  as  foam,  when  she  came  in.  I  asked  her  about 
the  child,  and  she  told  me  what  I  have  been  a  telling  you. 
In  the  night  she  went  away.  I  had  fell  asleep,  leaning 
against  the  wall,  and  didn't  know  she  was  agoing.  The 
baby  was  left  behind  on  the  husk-bed. 

"  The  next  thing,  my  sister  wandered  back  to  the  lone- 
some place,  where  she  and  her  baby  had  lived  together,  and 
without  telling  any  one  that  she  was  sick,  lay  down  and 
died. 

"  Ben  Benson  sat  in  his  cabin  all  that  day,  and  the  little 
child 'went  out  and  in  like  a  lonesome  bird,  now  a  picking 
posies  from  the  bank  and  agin  crying  by  the  cabin  door. 
That  miserable  old  feller  never  had  but  one  guardian  spirit 
on  arth,  and  that  ere  night  he  thought  of  her,  while  the 
baby  lay  hived  up  in  his  bosom.  So  he  took  the  child  up 
as  if  it  had  been  a  little  helpless  lamb,  and  laid  it  down 
where  that  ere  angel  could  find  it." 

"And  this  was  Lina!"  exclaimed  Ralph,  with  tears  in 
his  eyes.  "  I  thank  you,  Ben." 

"  You  know  this — you  are  certain  of  her  identity  ?  "  said 
James  Harrington. 

"  I  am  sartin  that  she's  my  own  sister's  darter,  and  can 
swear  to  it  afore  God  and  man,"  was  Ben's  solemn  reply. 
"  But  where  is  the  gal  ?  Is  she  found — will  she  come  back 
•—does  she  know  as  this  ere  old  chap  is  her  uncle  ?  " 

"She  knows  nothing,"  said  Ralph,  shaking  the  hand 
which  Ben  extended  while  propounding  these  eager  ques- 
tions. "  She  is  yonder  in  the  sleigh,  Ben — no,  not  yet ; 
she  is  ill,  and  the  least  excitement  may  do  harm.  Go  and 


426  Mabets   Mistake. 

find  us  an  entrance  to  the  house  ;  we  have  tried  the  doors, 
but  no  one  seems  astir — iny  fa — the  General,  is  not  home,  I 
suppose  " 

"  No,"  answered  Ben,  believing  what  he  said ;  "  I 
haven't  seen  the  General  about  these  four  days." 

"  And  my  mother? n  inquired  Ralph. 

"  She's  sartain  to  be  there,  poor  lady,"  answered  Ben, 
shaking  his  head  sorrowfully. 

"  Yes,  yes,  she's  pining  about  Lina,  but  that  will  soon  be 
over — bless  the  dear  girl — on  second  thought,  if  my  mother 
is  ill,  I  had  better  go  myself;  some  of  the  servants  must  be 
up  by  this  time.  See,  there  she  is,  Ben,  in  the  sleigh, 
muffled  up  in  furs,  poor  little  birdie.  Go  speak  to  her,  but 
remember  she  is  feeble  as  a  babe,  so  be  very  quiet." 

"  You  can  trust  old  Ben  Benson  for  that  ere,"  cried  the 
boatman,  looking  eagerly  towards  the  sleigh ;  but  with  the 
first  glance  great  tears  came  chasing  each  other  down  his 
cheeks,  and  all  unconsciously  he  held  out  both  arms,  shout- 
ing, "  my  own,  own  little  gal ! " 

There  was  a  struggle  in  the  sleigh,  and  with  low  mur- 
murs of  delight,  Lina  held  forth  her  hand. 

"Remember  and  keep  cool,"  said  Ealph  ;  then  turning 
towards  James,  he  said,  "  drive  to  the  door,  I  will  soon 
rouse  the  household." 

With  these  words  he  strode  towards  the  house,  eager  to 
carry  glad  tidings  to  his  mother. 


CHAPTER  LXXXI. 

THE   MANIAC. 


ALL  night  long  the  slave  woman  crouched  down  in  the 
middle  of  her  bed,  with  the  blankets  drawn  over  her  liko 


Mabel's  Mistake.  427 

a  tent,  and  her  eyes  looking  out  into  the  darkness,  waiting 
for  the  morning,  and  yet  shrinking  with  terror  whenever  a 
gleam  of  light  appeared.  At  last,  when  the  morning 
broke,  grey  and  cold,  she  crept  forth  in  her  clothes — as  she 
had  been  all  night — and  stood  for  a  time  listening  as  if 
she  expected  some  unusual  sound.  But  all  was  still,  no 
servant  was  yet  abroad,  and  she  sat  down  upon  the  bed, 
waiting  with  a  dull  heavy  gleam  of  the  eye  that  had  some- 
thing awful  in  it.  At  last  she  was  aroused  by  a  loud  ring 
at  the  hall  door,  which  brought  a  smothered  scream  to  her 
lips  ;  but  she  arose  and  went  down  stairs,  opening  the  door 
with  a  sort  of  mechanical  composure.  Ralph  Harrington 
stood  upon  the  threshold,  and  a  little  way  off  winding  up 
the  circular  carriage  sweep  was* a  sleigh,  in  which  she  dis- 
covered James  Harrington  and  the  pale  face  of  Lina.  The 
sight  made  her  tremble  in  every  limb,  and  her  eyes  were 
terrible  to  look  upon. 

"Is  my  mother  up  yet  ?"  said  Ralph,  without  regarding 
the  woman,  who  did  not  answer,  for  her  teeth  chattered 
when  she  made  the  attempt. 

"  Well,  then  we  must  arouse  her ;  of  course  the  fires  are 
kept  up  such  nights  as  this ;  take  Miss  French  to  the 
breakfast-room  while  I  inquire  for  Mrs.  Harrington." 

But  Lina  would  not  be  restrained :  joy  at  the  sight  of 
that  dear  old  home  gave  her  temporary  strength  ;  she  ran 
up  the  steps,  passing  James  and  Ralph,  in  the  speed  of  her 
love. 

"  2To,  no,  I  cannot  wait.  Let  me  go  to  her  room.  I  will 
awake  her  as  of  old  with  my  kisses — they  will  not  frighten 
her." 

Before  the  sentence  was  finished,  Lina  had  reached  the 
door  of  Mabel's  boudoir,  and  throwing  it  open,  flew  into 
the  bed-room.  A  close  stifling  vapor  enclouded  her  as  she 
entered,  but  in  the  ardor  of  her  love  she  rushed  through  it, 


428  Mabefs   Mistake. 

flung  back  the  bed-curtains,  and  throwing  her  arms  over 
the  sleeper  there  cried  out " 

"  Mamma,  awake  !  it  is  Lina — your  own  Lina  come  back 
to  live  at  home,  mamma — mamma  " — 

The  last  word  died  away  in  an  exclamation  of  horror,  for 
the  face  she  touched  was  cold  as  marble,  and  she  fell  for- 
ward struggling  for  breath. 

Ralph  had  followed  her  to  the  door,  and  lingered  there, 
waiting  for  his  mother  to  summon  him,  but  there  was 
something  in  the  atmosphere  which  crept  through  into  the 
hall  that  awoke  his  apprehension,  this  was  increased  by 
Lina's  sudden  silence. 

With  a  quickened  beat  of  the  heart  he  went  in,  but  a 
stifling  haze  filled  the  room,  which  was  so  dark  that  he 
could  only  see  Lina,  lying  motionless  across  the  bed.  He 
rushed  to  the  window  and  tore  back  the  curtains,  filling  the 
room  with  a  dull  luminous  fog,  through  which  he  saw  Lina, 
pale  as  marble,  and  gasping  for  breath,  but  with  her  eyes 
wide  open,  and  fixed  on  the  face  of  his  father. 

"  My  God — oh,  my  God !  what  is  this  ?  "  he  cried,  stag- 
gering forward. 

"  It  is  your  father,  Ralph,  cold  as  death." 

Ralph  uttered  a  cry  so  sharp  and  piercing  that  it  reached 
James  and  Benson,  wfco  came  in  alarm  from  the  breakfast- 
room — nay,  it  penetrated  farther,  and  aroused  Mabel  from 
her  comfortless  sleep  in  the  chamber  above.  She  arose  with 
a  thrill  of  unaccountable  awe,  and  glided  down  the  stairs, 
passing  the  mulatto  chambermaid,  who  stood  motionless  as 
a  bronze  statue  outside  the  door.  As  the  woman  saw  her 
she  gave  a  cry  and  her  eyes  dilated  with  unspeakable  hor- 
ror ;  slowly,  as  if  she  had  been  forced  into  motion  by  some 
irresistible  power,  she  turned  and  followed  after  Mabel,  step 
by  step,  till  both  stood  in  the  room  of  death.  The  eyes  of 
those  two  women  fell  on  the  dead  body  of  General  Harring- 


Mabel's  Mistake.  429 

ton  at  the  same  moment ;  Mabel  burst  into  tears.  The 
mulatto  seemed  turning  to  stone — she  did  not  breathe,  she 
did  not  move,  but  stood  with  her  lips  apart,  helpless, 
speechless,  stricken  with  a  terrible  horror. 

James  Harrington  saw  the  furnace  standing  on  the 
hearth  with  a  handful  of  white  ashes  at  the  bottom. 

"  It  is  the  fumes  of  charcoal — he  has  been  smothered — 
who  brought  this  here  ? "  he  exclaimed,  looking  at  the 
woman. 

If  he  expected  to  see  that  ashen  grey  upon  her  cheek, 
which  is  the  nearest  approach  to  pallor  that  her  race  can 
know,  he  was  disappointed.  She  neither  changed  color  nor 
moved,  but  a  gleam  of  horrible  intelligence  came  into  her 
eyes,  and  as  her  lips  closed,  a  faint  quiver  stirred  them. 

She  did  not  heed  his  question,  but  turned  in  silence  and 
went  out. 

Half  an  hour  after,  when  the  first  great  shock  was  over, 
and  James  Harrington  sent  to  have  the  movements  of  this 
woman  watched,  she  was  nowhere  to  be  found.  The  serv- 
ants had  seen  a  handsome  and  richly  dressed  lady  pass 
through  the  front  door,  and  walk  swiftly  toward  the  high- 
way. The  chambermaid  could  not  have  passed  without 
being  observed.  Yet  no  human  being  ever  saw  her  after- 
ward. 

The  day  on  which  General  Harrington  was  buried,  the 
funeral  procession  passed  by  the  house  in  which  Lina  had 
lived  during  her  painful  sojourn  in  the  city.  As  it  went 
by,  a  woman  rushed  to  and  fro  in  the  house,  uttering  the 
most  piteous  cries,  and  tearing  at  everything  within  her 
reach.  From  that  little  fairy-like  conservatory  she  had 
torn  down  the  blossoming  vines,  and  broken  the  plants, 
crowning  herself  fantastically  with  the  trailing  garlands, 
and  trampling  the  blossoms  beneath  her  feet  with  bursts  of 


430  Mabel's  Mistake. 

wild  laughter,  alternated  with  groans,  that  seemed  to  rend 
her  heart  asunder.  As  the  funeral  cortege  went  by,  these 
groans  and  shrieks  of  laughter  aroused  the  neighborhood. 
Some  members  of  the  police  entered,  and  took  the  maniac 
away. 


It  was  a  year  after  General  Harrington's  death,  a  steamer 
was  passing  through  a  channel  of  the  East  River,  leaving 
Blackwell's  Island  on  the  left.  Sitting  upon  the  deck  was 
a  bridal  party :  that  morning  had  made  Lina,  Ralph  Har- 
rington's wife.  James  Harrington  had  given  her  away, 
having  first  richly  endowed  the  young  couple,  and  Mabel 
made  one  of  the  wedding  party. 

Upon  the  shore  near  the  end  of  Blackwell's  Island,  stands 
that  most  painful  appendage  to  a  lunatic  asylum,  the  mad- 
house ;  looming  over  the  water  like  a  huge  menagerie,  in 
which  wild  animals  are  kept.  Through  the  iron  lattices, 
which  gird  in  the  granite  walls  of  this  building,  you«may 
at  any  time  see  the  maniacs  roaming  to  and  fro,  sometimes 
in  sullen  silence,  sometimes  shrieking  out  their  fantasies  or 
their  rage  to  the  winds  as  they  whistle  by,  and  the  waters 
that  flow  on  forever  and  ever,  unconscious  of  the  miserable 
secrets  given  to  their  keeping. 

As  the  boat  containing  the  bridal  party  swept  by  the 
mad-house  a  beautiful  but  most  fiendish  face  looked  out 
between  these  bars ;  a  clenched  hand  was  thrust  through, 
and  a  storm  of  terrible  curses  hailed  after  Mabel  and  her 
newly  married  children.  But  the  boat  swept  calmly  by, 
leaving  them  behind.  Mabel  saw  the  clenched  hand,  but 
the  curses  rushed  by  her  in  one  confused  wail,  which 
touched  her  only  with  gentle  compassion ;  for  she  little 
thought  that  Zillah,  the  woman  who,  in  seeking  her  life, 
had  murdered  her  husband,  was  hurling  these  fiendish 
anathemas  after  her. 


MabeFs  Mistake.  431 

So  in  her  happiness,  for  Mabel  was  happy  then — she 
turned  away  from  the  mad-house,  touched  with  momentary 
gloom  and,  taking  James  Harrington's  arm  moved  to  the 
other  side  of  the  boat,  and  leaning  upon  him  watched  the 
sun  go  down.  Thus,  with  the  rich  twilight  falling  softly 
around  them,  these  two  noble  beings  drifted  into  their  new 
life. 


THE    END. 


:   o8 

• 


d'j'n  adj  iiJxw  tai  ,  aua 

eai»d  ai  >a 


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Col.  Thorpe's  Scenes  in  Arkansaw.     With  16  Illustrations, 1   76 

The  Big  Bear's  Adventures  and  Travels.    With  18  Illustration?, 1  76 

High  Life  in  New  York,  by  Jonathan    Slick.     With  Illustrations,....  1  76 

Judge  Haliburton's  Yankee  Stories.      Illustrated, 1  75 

Harry  Coverdale's  Courtship  and  Marriage.     Illustrated, 1  76 

Piney  Wood's  Tavern;  or,  Sam  Slick  in  Texas.     Illustrated, 1  75 

Sam  Slick,  the  Clockmaker.     By  Judge  Haliburton.     Illustrated,...  1  75 

Humors  of  Falconbridge.     By  J.  F.  Kelley.     With  Illustrations, ...  1  75 

Modern  Chivalry.     By  Judge  Breckenridge.     Two  vols.,  each 1  76 

Neal's  Charcoal  Sketches.     By  Joseph  C.  Neal.     21  Illustrations,...  2  60 

A  T.T?  V  A  WTVPTJ    TITTTyT  A  C>    TITYVDTrC 


ALEXANDER  DUMAS'  WORKS. 


.Count  of  Monte  Cristo, 1  60 

The  Iron  Mask, 1  00 

Loui.so  La  Valliere, „  1  00 

Adventures  of  a  Marquis, 1  00 

Diana  of  Meridor, 1  00 

The  Three  Guardsmen, 75 

Twenty  Years  After, 75 

Bragelonne, 75 

The  Conscript.   A  Tale  of  War,  1  50 


00 


Memoirs  of  a  Physician, 1 

Queen's  Necklace, 1  00 

Six  Years  Later, 1  00 

Countess  of  Charney, 1  00 

Andree  de  Taverney, 1  -00 

The  Chevalier, 1  00 

Forty-five  Guardsmen, 75 

The  Iron  Hand, 75 

Camille,  "The  Camclia Lady,"  1  60 


The  above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or  in  cloth,  price  $1.75  each. 


Elmond  Dantes, 75 

Felina  de  Chambure, 75 

The  Horrors  of  Paris, 75 

The  Fallen  Angel, 75 

Sketches  in  France, 75 

Isabel  of  Bavaria, 75 


Man  with  Five  Wives, 75 

Twin  Lieutenants, 75 

Annette,  Lady  of  the  Pearls,....  50 

Mohicans  of  Paris 50 

The  Marriage  Verdict, 60 

The  Corsicitn  Brothers,. 60 


Count  of  Moret, 60  |  George, 50  |  Buried  Alive .  25 


Books  sent,  postage  paid,  on  receipt  of  the  Retail  Price,  by 
T.  B.  Peterson  &  Brothers,  Philadelphia  Pa 


T.  B.  PETERSON  &  BBOTHEBS'  PUBLICATIONS.   5 
CHARLES     DICKENS'    WORKS. 

**- GREAT    BEDTTCTION    IN    THEIK    PRICES.-** 


PEOPLE'S  DUODECIMO  EDITION.    ILLTTSTBATED. 

Seduced  in  price  from  $2.50  to  $1.50  a  volume. 

Tkit  edition  it  printed  on  fine  paper,  from  large,  clear  type,  leaded,  that 
all  can  read,  containing  One  Hundred  and  Eighty  Illuttration*  on  tinted 
paper,  and  tack  book  it  complete  in  one  large  duodecimo  volume. 


Our  Mutual  Friend, Cloth,  $1.50 

Pickwick  Papers,. .„ Cloth,  1.50 

Nicholas  Nickleby, Cloth,  1.50 

Great  Expectations, Cloth,  1.50 

David  Copperfield, Cloth,  1.50 

Oliver  Twist, Cloth,  1.50 

Bleak  House, Cloth,  1.50 

A  Tala  of  Two  Cities,.... Cloth,  1.50 


Little  Dorrit, Clotb,  $1.50 

Dombey  and  Son, Cloth,  1.50 

Christmas  Stories, Clotb,  1.50 

Sketches  by"Boz," Cloth,  1.50 

Barnaby  Rudge, Cloth,  1.50 

Martin  Chnzzlewit, Cloth,  1.50 

Old  Curiosity  Shop, Cloth,  1.50 

Dickens'  New  Stories,....Cloth,  1.50 


American  Notes;  and  The  Uncommercial  Traveler, Cloth,    1.50 

Hunted  Down;  and  other  Reprinted  Pieces, Cloth,    1.50 

The  Holly-Tree  Inn;  and  other  Stories, Cloth,    1.50 

Price  of  a  set,  in  Black  cloth,  in  nineteen  volumes, $28.00 

«        "         Full  sheep,  Library  style, 38.00 

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«  BH«0>    Half  calf,  marbled  edges, 53.00 

*        «         Half  calf,  antique, 57.00 

«        «         Half  calf,  full  gilt  backs,  etc., 57.00 

ILLUSTRATED  DUODECIMO  EDITION. 
Reduced  in  price  from  $2.00  to  $1.50  a  volume. 

Tki»  edition  it  printed  on  the  finest  paper,  from  large,  clear  type,  leaded, 
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Hundred  full  page  Illuttrationt,  printed  on  tinted  paper,  from  detignt  by 
Cruikthank,  Phiz,  Browne,  Maclite,  McLenan,  and  other  artittt.  Thefot- 
louring  books  are  each  contained  in  two  volume*. 


Our  Mutual  Friend, Cloth,  $3.00 

Pickwick  Papers Cloth,  3.00 

Tale  of  Two  Cities, Cloth,  3.00 

Nicholas  Nickleby, Cloth,  3.00 

David  Copperfield, Cloth,  3.00 

Oliver  Twist, Cloth,  3.00 

Christmas  Stories Cloth,  3.00 


Bleak  House, Cloth,  $3.00 

Sketches  by  "Boz," Cloth,  3.00 

Barnaby  Rudge, Cloth,  3.00 

Martin  Chuzzl'ewit, Cloth,  3.00 

Old  Curiosity  Shop, Cloth,  3.00 

Little  Dorrit, Cloth,  3.00 

Dombey  and  Son, Cloth,  3.00 


The  following  are  each  complete  in  one  volume,  and  are  reduced  in  price 
from  $2.50  to  $1.50  a  volume. 

Great  Expectations, Cloth,  $1.50  |  Dickens'  New  Stories,  ...Cloth,  $1.50 

American  Notes;  and  The  Uncommercial  Traveler, Cloth,     1.50 

Hunted  Down;  and  other  Reprinted  Piece?, Cloth,    1.50 

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Price  of  a  set,  in  thirty-three  volumes,  bound  in  cloth, $49.00 

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i5*  Books  sent,  postage   paid,  on  receipt  of  the  Retail  Price,  bj 
T.  B.  Peterson  ft  Brothers,  Philadelphia,  Pa, 


6    T.  B.  PETERSON  &  BROTHERS'  PTTBLICATIOHS. 


CHARLES  DICKENS'   WORKS. 

ILLUSTRATED  OCTAVO  EDITION. 
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Illustration*,  by  Cruikshank,  Phiz,  Browne,  Maclite,  and  other  artists. 


David  Copperfield, Cloth,  $2.00 

Barnaby  Rudge, Cloth,  2.00 

Martin  Chuzzlewit, Cloth,  2.00 

Old  Curiosity  Shop, Cloth,  2.00 

Christmas  Stories, Cloth,  2.09 

Dickens'  New  Stories,...Cloth,  2.00 

A  Tale  of  Two  Cities,. ..Cloth,  2.00 
American  Notes  and 

Pic-Nio  Papers, Cloth,     2.00 


Onr  Mutual  Friend, Cloth,  $2.00 

Pickwick  Papers, Cloth,     2.00 

Nicholas  Nickleby, Cloth,     2.00 

Great  Expectations, Cloth,     2.00 

Lamplighter's  Story,.. ..Cloth,     2.00 

Oliver  Twist, Cloth,     2.00 

Bleak  House, ..Cloth,     2.00 

Little  Don-it, Cloth,     2.00 

Dombey  and  Son, Cloth,      2.00 

Sketches  by  "  Boz," Cloth,     2.00 

Price  of  a  set,  in  Black  cloth,  in  eighteen  volumes, $36.00 

"  "  Full  sheep,  Library  style, 45.00 

"  "  Half  calf,  sprinkled  edges, 55.00 

"  "  Half  calf,  marbled  edges,. 62.0ft 

u  "  Half  calf,  antique, ; 70.00 

"  "  Half  calf,  full  gilt  backs,  eto., 70.00 

"NEW  NATIONAL  EDITION"  OF  DICKENS'  WOBXS. 
This  is  the  cheapest  complete  edition  of  the  works  of  Charles  Dickens, 
"Boz,"  published  in  the  world,  being  contained  in  seven  large  octavo  vol- 
umes,  with  a  portrait  of  Charles  Dickens,  and  other  illustrations,  the  whole 
making  nearly  six  thousand  very  large  double  columned  page*,  in  large,  clear 
type,  and  handsomely  printed  on  fine  white  paper,  and  bound  in  tho 
strongest  and  most  substantial  manner. 

Price  of  a  set,  in  Black  cloth,  in  seven  volumes, $20.00 

"  "         Full  sheep,  Library  style, 25.00 

"  "         Half  calf,  antique, 30.00 

ift\**K          «        Half  calf,  full  gilt  back,  etc., 30.00 


CHEAP   SALMON  PAPER  COVER  EDITION. 
Each  book  be-'ng  complete  in  one  large  octavo  volume. 


Pickwick  Papers, 35 

Nicholas  Nickleby, 35 

Dombey  and  Son, 35 

David  Copperfield, 25 

Martin  Chuzzlewit, 35 

Old  Curiosity  Shop, 25 

Oliver  Twist, 25 

American  Notes, 25 

Great  Expectations, 25 

Hard  Times, 25 

ATule  of  Two  Cities, 25 

Somebody's  Luggage, 25 

Message  from  the  Sea, 25 

Barnaby  Rudge, 25 

Sketches  by  "Boz," 25 


Christmas  Stories, 

The  Haunted  House, 

Uncommercial  Traveler, 

A  House  to  Let, 

Perils  of  English  Prisoner?, 

Wreck  of  the  Golden  Mary, 

Tom  Tiddler's  Ground, 

Our  Mutual  Friend,... 

Bleak  House, 

Little  Dorrit, 

Joseph  Gritnaldi, 

The  Pic-Nic  Papers, 

No  Thoroughfare 

Hunted  Down, 

The  Holly-Tree  Inn, 


Mrs.  Lirriper's  Lodgings  and  Mrs.  Lirriper's  Legacy,. 
Mugby  Junction  and  Dr. -Marigold's  Prescriptions, 


Books  sent,  postage  paid,  on  receipt  of  ths  Retail   Price, 
T.  B.  Peterson  &  Brothers,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


uiO 

25 
25 
25 
25 
25 
25 
25 
35 
35 
35 
50 


25 
25 

25 

by 


T.  B.  PETERSON  &  BROTHERS'  PULICATIONS.    7 


CHARLES  LEVER'S  BEST  WORKS. 


Charles  O'Malley, 75 

Harry  Lorrequer, 75 

Jack  Hinton, 75 

Tom  Burke  of  Ours, 75 


Knight  of  Gwynne, 


75 


Arthur  O'Leary, 75 

Con  Cregan 75 

Davenport  Dunn, 75 


Above  are  each  ia  paper,  or  finer  edition  in  cloth,  price  $2.00  each. 
Horace  Templeton, 75  |  Kate  O'Donoghue, 75 

MADAME  GEORGE  SAND'S  WORKS. 

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Countess  of  Rudolstadt, 75 

First  and  True  Love, 75 

The  Corsair, 50 

Jealousy,  paper, 1  50 

Do.  cloth, 1  75 


Fanchon,  the  Cricket,  pnper,...  1  00 
Do.  do.       cloth,...  1   50 

Indiana,  a  Love  Story,  paper,.  1  50 
Do.  do.        cloth,..,  1  75 

Consuelo  and  Rudolstadt,  both 
in  one  volume,  cloth, 2 


00 


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The  Crossed  Path,  or  Basil,....  1  50  |  The  Dead  Secret.     12mo 

The  above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or  in  cloth,  price  $1.75  each. 


Hide  and  Seek, 75 

After  Dark, 75 

The  Dead  Secret.     8vo 75 

Above  in  cloth  at  $1.00  each. 

The  Queen's  Revenge, 75 


Mad  Monkton,. 
Sights  a-Foot,. 


150 

50 
50 


The  Stolen  Mask, 25 

The  Yellow  Mask, 25 

Sister  Rose, 25 


MISS  PARDOE'S  WORKS. 

Confessions  of  a  Pretty  Woman,       75 

The  Wife's  Trials, 75 

The  Jealous  Wife, 50 

The  five  above  books  are  also  bound  in  one  volume,  cloth,  for  $4.00. 

The  Adopted  Heir.     One  volume,  paper,  $1.50;  or  in  cloth, $1  75 

The  Earl's  Secret.    One  volume,  paper,  $1.50;  or  in  cloth,  1  75 


Rival  Beauties, 75 

Romance  of  the  Harem, 75 


MRS.  HENRY  WOOD'S  BOOKS. 


Red  Court  Farm, 1  50 

Elster's  Folly, 1  50 

St.  Martin's  Eve, 1  50 

Mildred  Arkell, 1  50 

Shadow  of  Ashlydyat, 1  50 


Lord  Oakburn's  Daughters ;  or, 
the  Earl's  Heirs, 1 

Squire  Trevlyn's  Heir ;  or, 
Trevlyn  Hold,. 


The    Castle's  Heir;    or,  Lady 
Adelaide's  Oath, 


Oswald  Cray, 1  50 

Verner's  Pride, 1  50 

Above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or  each  one  in  cloth,  for  $1.75  each. 
The  Mystery, 75  |  A  Life's  Secret, 

Above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or  each  one  in  cloth,  for  $1.00  each. 
The  Channings, 1  00  I  Aurora  Floyd, 

Above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or  each  one  in  cloth,  for  $1.50  each. 


Orville  College, 50 

The  Runaway  Match, 60 

The   Lost  W'ill, 50 

The  Haunted  Tower, 50 

The  Lost  Bank  Note, 75 


Better  for  Worse, 

Foggy  Night  at  Offord, 

The  Lawyer's  Secret,... 

William  Allah- 

A  Light  and  a  Dark  Christmas, 


75 

75 
25 
25 
25 
25 


Books  sent,  postage  paid,  on  receipt  of  the  Retail  Price,  by 

T.  B.  Peterson  &  Brothers,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

•  *•»    .J».uj<j)aiu!t .  t  T.   vat'»iL'Oia    A    siOf 


8    T.  B.  PETERSON  &  BROTHERS'  PUBLICATIONS. 


GEORGE  W.  KL  REYNOLDS'  WORKS. 


Mysteries  of  Court  of  London,..  1  00 

Rose  Foster.     Sequel  to  it, 150 

Caroline  of  Brunswick, 1  00 

Venetia  Trelawney, 1  00 

Lord  Saxondale, 1  00 

Count  Christoval, 1  00 

Rosa  Lambert, 1  00 


Mary  Price, 1  00 

Eustace  Quentin, ]   00 

Joseph  Wilmot, 1  00 

Banker's  Daughter, 1  00 

Kenneth, 1  00 

The  Rye-House  Plot, 1  00 

The  Necromancer, 1  00 


The  above  are  each  iu  paper  cover,  or  in  cloth,  price  $1.75  each. 
The  Opera  Dancer, 75    The  Soldier's  Wife, 75 


Child  of  Waterloo, 75 

Robert  Bruce, 75 

Discarded  Queen, 75 

The  Gipsy  Chief, 75 

Mary  Stuart,  Queen  of  Scots,...  75 
Wallace,  the  Hero  of  Scotland,  1  00 

Isabella  Vincent, 75 

Vivian  Bertram,. 75 

Countess  of  Lascelles, 75 

Loves  of  the  Harem, 75 

Ellen  Percy, 75 

Agnes  Evelyn, 75 


May  Middleton,. 


Duke  of  Marchmont, 

Massacre  of  Glencoe, 

Queen  Joanna;  Court  Naples, 

Pickwick  Abroad, 

Parricide, 

The  Ruined.,Gamester, 

Ciprina;  or,   the  Secrets  of  a 

Picture  Gallery, 50, 

Life  in  Paris, 50 

Countess  and  the  Page, 50 

Edgar  Montrose, 50 


75 
75 
75 
75 

75 
75 
50 


WAVERLEY  NOVELS.    BY  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 

CHEAPEST  EDITION  IN   THE   WOELD. 


Ivanhoe,...; 20 

Rob  Roy, 20 

Guy  Mannering...... 20 

The  Antiquary 20 

Old  Mortality 20 


Heart  of  Mid  Lothian,. 
Bride  of  Lammcrmoor,. 

Waverley 

St.  Ronan's  Well,., 


20 

...  20 
...  20 
...  20 
Kenilworth, 20 

20 


The  Betrothed, 26 

Peveril  of  the  Peak, 20 

Quentin  Dnrward, 20 

Red  Gauntlet, 20 

The  Talisman, 20 

Woodstock, 20 

Highland  Widow,  etc., 20 

The  Fair  Maid  of  Perth, 20 

Anne  of  Geierstein, 20 

Count  Robert  of  Paris, 20 

The  Black  Dwarf  and  Legend 

of  Montrose, 20 

Castle    Dangerous,    and    Sur- 
geon's Daughter, 20 


The  Pirate, 

The  Monastery, 20 

The  Abbot 20 

The  Fortunes  of  Nigel, 20 

Above  edition  is  the  cheapest  in  the  world,  and  is  complete  in  twenty-six 
volumes,  price  Twenty  cents  each,  or  Five  Dollars  for  the  complete  set. 

A  flner  edition  is  also  published  of  each  of  the  above,  complete  in  twen- 
ty-six volumes,  price  Fifty  cents  each,  or  Ten  Dollars  for  the  complete  sot. 

Moredun.    ATaleofl210, 60    Scott's  Poetical  Works, 500 

Tales  of  a  Grandfather, 25    Life  of  Scott,  cloth, 250 

"HEW  NATIONAL  EDITION"  OF  "  WAVEELEY  NOVELS." 

This  edition  of  tho  Waverley  Novels  is  contained  in  five  large  octavo  rol- 
vmei,  with  a  portrait  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  making  four  thousand  vtry  large 
double  columned  paget,  in  good  type,  and  handsomely  printed  on  the  finest 
of  white  paper,  and  bound  in  the  strongest  and  most  substantial  manner. 

Price  of  a  set,  in  Black  cloth,  in  five  volumes, $15  00 

"          "          Full  sheep,  Library  style, 1750 

"          «          Half  calf,  antique,  or  Half  calf,  gilt, 2500 

The  Complete  Prose  and  Poetical  Works  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  nre  »\tn 

published  in  ten  volumes,  bound  in  hnlf  calf,  for $60.00 

• •• 

<^-  Books   lent,  postage  paid,  011  receipt  of  the  Retail  Price,  by 
T.  B.  Peterson  &  Brothers,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


T.  B.  PETERSON  &  BROTHERS'  PUBLICATIONS.    9 


HUMOROUS  AMERICAN  WORKS. 


Beautifully  Jllititrated 

Major  Jones'  Courtship, 75 

Major  Jones'Travels 75 

Simon  Suggs'  Adventures  and 

Travels, 75 

Major  Jones'  Chronicles  of 

Pineville, 75 

Polly  Peablossom's  Wedding,..  75 

Mysteries  of  the  Backwoods,...  75 

Widow  Rugby's  Husband, 75 

Big  Bear  of  Arkansas. 75 

Western  Scenes;  or,  Life  on 

the  Prairie, 75 

Streaks  of  Squatter  Life, 75 

Pickings  from  the  Picayune,...  75 
Stray  Subjects,  Arrested  and 

Bound  Over, 75 

Louisiana  Swamp  Doctor, 75 

Charcoal  Sketches, 75 

Misfortunes  of  Peter  Faber 75 

Yankee  among  the  Mermaids,..  75 

New  Orleans  Sketch  Book, 75 


by  Felix  0.  C.  Parley. 

Drama  in  Pokerville, 75 

The  Quorndon  Hounds, 75 

My  Shooting  Box, 75 

Warwick  Woodlands, 75 

The  DeerStalkers, 75 

Peter  Ploddy, 75 

Adventures  of  Captain  Farrago,  75 
Major  O'Regan's  Adventures,..  75 
Sol.  Smith's  Theatrical  Appren- 
ticeship,   75 

Sol.  Smith's  Theatrical  Jour 

uey-Work, 75 

The  Quarter  Race  in  Kentucky,  75 

Aunt  Patty's  Scrap  Bag, 75 

Percival    Mayberry's    Adven- 
tures and  Travels, 75 

Sam  Slick's  Yankee  Yarns  and 

Yankee  Letters, 75 

Adventures  of  Fudge  Fumble,.  75 

American  Joe  Miller, 50 

Following  the  Drum, 50 


Henrietta  Temple, 50 

Vivian  Grey, 75 

Venetia, 50 


DISRAELI'S  WORKS. 


Young  Duke, 60 

Miriam  Alroy, 50 

Contarina  Fleming, 50 


FRANK  FAIRLEGH'S  WORKS. 

Frank  Fairlegh,.. 75  I  Harry  Racket  Scapegrace, 75 

Lewis  Arundel, 75  I  Tom  Racquet, 75 

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Harry  Coverdale's    Courtship,  1  50  |  Lorrirner  Littlegood, 1  50 

The  above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or  in  cloth,  price  $1.75  each. 

C.  J.  PETERSON'S  WORKS. 

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Cruising  in  the  Last  War, 75  I  Grace  Dudley;  or,  Arnold  at 

Valley  Farm, 251      Saratoga, 50 

JAMES  A.  MAITLAND'S  WORKS. 

The  Old  Patroon, 1  50    Diary  of  an  Old  Doctor, 1  50 

Tho  Watchman, 1  50     Sartaroe, 1  50 

The  Wanderer, 1  50    The  Three  Cousins 1  50 

The  Lawyer's  Story, 1  50 

The  above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or  in  cloth,  price  $1.75  each. 

WILLIAM  H.  MAXWELL'S  WORKS. 

Wild  Sports  of  the  West, 75  I  Brian  O'Lynn, 75 

Stories  of  Waterloo, 75  I 


Books  sent,  postage  paid,  on  receipt  of  the  Retail  Price,  by 
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10  T.  B.  PETERSON  &  BROTHERS'  PUBLICATIONS. 


WILLIAM  HARRISON 

Life  of  Jack  SneppurJ, 50 

Life  of  Guy  Fawkes, 75 

Above  in  1  vol.,  cloth,  $1.75. 

Court  of  the  Stuarts, 75 

Windsor  Castle, 75 

The  Star  Chamber, 75 

Old  St.  Paul's, 75 

Courtof  Quecu  Anne, 50 

Life  of  Dick  Turpin, 50 

Life  of  Davy  Crockett, 50 


AINSWORTH'S  WORKS. 

Tower  of  London, 1  60 

Miser's  Daughter, 1  CO 

Above  in  cloth  $1.75  each. 

Life  of  Grace  O'Malley, 50 

Life  of  Henry  Thomas, 25 

Desperadoes  of  the  NewWorld,       25 
Life  of  Ninon  De  L'Enclos,....       25 

Life  of  Arthur  Spring, 25 

Life  of  Mrs.  Whipple  and  Jes- 

seo  Strang, 25 


G.  P.  R.  JAMES'S  BEST  BOOKS. 

Lord  Montague's  Page, 1  50  |  The  Cavalier, 1  50 

The  above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or  in  cloth,  price  $1.75  each. 

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Mary  of  Burgundy, 75  I  Eva  St.  Clair, 50 

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cloth,. 
Sermons, 


1  50 


2d 


Series,  $1.00;  cloth, 1  50 


Series,  $1.00;   cloth, 
Dow's     Patent    Sermons, 
Series,  $1.00;    cloth,.... 


4th 


1   50 
1  50 


SAMUEL  C.  WARREN'S  BEST  BOOKS. 


Ten  Thousand  a  Year,... paper,  1  50 
Do.  do.  cloth,  2  00 


Diary  of  a  Medical  Student,..        75 


a.  K.  PHILANDER  DOESTICKS'  WORKS. 

Doesticks'  Letters, 1  50  I  The  Elephant  Club, 1  50 

Plu-Ri-Bus-Tah, 1  50  |  Witches  of  New  York, 1  i»0 

The  above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or   in  cloth,  price  $1.75  each. 

GREEN'S  WORKS  ON  GAMBLING. 

Gambling  Exposed, 1  50  I  The  Reformed  Gambler, 1  50 

The  Gambler's  Life, 1  60  I  Secret  Band  of  Brothers, 1  50 

Above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or  each  one  in  cloth,  for  $1.75  each. 

MISS  ELLEN  PICKERING'S  WORKS. 


The  Grumbler 75 

Marrying  for  Money, 75 

Poor  'Cousin, 60 

Kate  Wulsingham, 50 

Orphan  Niece, 60 

CAPTAIN  MARRYATT'S  WORKS. 

Jacob  Faithful 50 

Japhet  in  Search  of  a  Father,..  50 

Phantom  Ship 50 

Midshipman  Easy, 60 

Pacha  of  Many  Tales 60 

Frank  Mildraay,  Naval  Officer,  50 

Snarleyow, 60 


Who  Shall  be  Heir? 38 

The  Squire, 38 

Ellen  Wareham, 38 

Nan  Darrel, 38 


Newton  Forster  ...................       50 

King's  Own.  ........................       60 

Pirate  and  Three  Cutters,  ......       60 


Peter  Simple, 
Percival  Keene, 
Poor  Jack, 
Sea  King 


60 

60 
60 
(0 


@*  Books  sent,  postage  paid,  on  receipt  of  the  Retail  Price,  by 
T.  B.  Peterson  &  Brothers,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


T.  B.  PETERSON  &  BROTHERS'  PUBLICATIONS.  11 


EUGENE   SUE'S 

Wandering  Jew, 1  6<> 

Mysteries  of  Paris, 1  50 

Martin,  the  Foundling, 1  50 

Above  in  cloth  at  $2.00  each. 


GREAT  WORKS. 

First  Love, 50 

Woman's  Love, 50 

Female  Bluebeard, 50 

Man-of-War's-Man, 50 


Life  and  Adventures  of  Raoul  De  Surville, 25 

MRS.  GREY'S  WORKS. 

Cousin  Harry, 1  50  |  The  Little  Beauty, 1  50 

The  above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or  in  cloth,  price  $1.75  each. 


Gipsy's  Daughter, 50 

Old  Dower  House, 50 

Bello  of  the  Family, 50 

Dike  and  Cousin, 50 

The  Little  Wife, 50 

Lena  Cameron, 50 

Sybil  Lennard, 50 

Manoeuvring  Mother 50 

Baronet's  Daughters, 50 


Young  Pritna  Donna, 50 

Hyacinthe, 25 

Alice  Seymour, 25 

Mury  Seaham, 75 

Passion  and  Principle, 75 

The  Flirt, 75 

Good  Society, 75 

Lion-Hearted, 75 


J.  F.  SMITH'S  WORKS. 


The     Usurer's     Victim;     or, 
Thomas  Balscombe, 75 


Adelaide  Waldegrave;  or,  the 
Trials  of  a  Governess, 75 


REVOLUTIONARY  TALES. 


The  Brigand, 50 

Ralph  Runnion, 50 

Seven  Brothers  of  Wyoming,..  50 

The  Rebel  Bride, 50 

The  Flying  Artillerist, 50 

Wuu-nan-gee, 50 


Old  Put;  or,  Days  of  1776, 50 

Legends  of  Mexico, 60 

Grace  Dudlty, 60 

The  Guerilla  Chief, 75 

The  Quaker  Soldier,  paper, 1  50 

do.             do.        cloth, 1  75 


EMERSON  BENNETT'S  WORKS. 


The  Border  Rover, 1  50 

Clara  Moreland, 1  50 

Viola;   or  Adventures   in  the 

Far  South-West, 1  50 


Bride  of  the  Wilderness, 1  50 

Ellen  Norbury, I  50 

The  Forged  Will, I  50 

Kate  Clarendon, 1  60 


The  above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or  in  cloth,  price  $1.75  each. 

The  Heiress  of  Bellefonte,  and            I  Pioneer's    Daughter  and   the 
Walde-Wurren, 75  I       Unknown  Countess, 75 

T.  S.  ARTHUR'S  HOUSEHOLD  NOVELS. 


The  Lost  Bride, 50 

The  Two  Brides 50 

Love  in  a  Cottage, 60 

Love  in  High  Life, 50 

Year  after  Marriage, 50 

The  Lady  at  Home, 50 

Cecelia  Howard 50 

Orphan  Children, 50 

Debtor's  Daughter, 50 

Mary  Moreton, 50 

Six  Nights  with  the  Washingtonians. 


The  Divorced  Wife, 50 

Pride  and  Prudence, 50 

Agnes;  or,  the  Possessed 60 

Lucy  Sandford. 50 

The  Banker's  Wife, 50 

The  Two  Merchants, 50 

Trial  and  Triumph, 60 

The  Iron  Rule 60 

Insubordination;  or,  the  Shoe- 
maker's Daughters, 50 

With  nine  original  Illustra- 


tions.    By  Cruikshank.     One  volume,  cloth  $1  75  ;  or  in  paper... .f1..r>0 
Lizzy  Glenn  ;  or,  the  Trials  of  a  Seamstress.    Cloth  $1.75  ;  or  paper,   1.50 

Books  sent,  postage  paid,  on  receipt  of  the  Retail  Pries,  by 
T.  B.  Peterson  &  Brothers,  Philadelphia,  Fa. 


12  I1.  B.  PETERSON  &  BROTHERS'  PUBLICATIONS. 


EXCITING 

Advontur«s  of  Ben  Brace, 75 

Jack  Adains,  the  Mutineer,....  75 

Jack  Ariel's  Adventures 75 

Petrel ;  or,  Life  on  the  Ocean,.  75 

Life  of  Paul  Periwinkle, 75 

Life  of  Tom  Bowling, 75 

Percy  Effingham, 75 

Cruising  in  the  Last  War, 75 

Kcd  King, 50 

The  Corsair, fiO 

The  Doomed  Ship, 50 

The  Three  Pirates, 50 

The  Flying  Dutchman, 50 

The  Flying  Yankee, 50 

The  Yankee  Middy, 60 

The  Gold  Seekers, 50 

The  King's  Cruisers, 60 

Life  of  Alexander  Tardy, 60 

Red  Wing, 50 

Yankee  Jack, 50 

Yankees  in  Japan, 50 

Morgan,  the  Buccaneer, 50 

Jack  Junk, 50 

Davis,  the  Pirate, 50 

Valdez,  the  Pirate, 60 


SEA  TALES. 

Gallant  Tom, 60 

Harry  Helm, 50 

Harry  Tempest, 60 

Rebel  and  Rover, 60 

Man-of-War's-Man, 60 

Dark  Shades  of  City  Life, 25 

The  Rats  of  the  Seine, 25 

Charles  Ransford, 25 

The  Iron  Cross, 25 

The  River  Pirates, 25 

The  Pirate's  Son, 25 

Jacob  Faithful, 60 

Phantom  Ship 60 

Midshipman  Easy, 50 

Pacha  of  Many  Tales, 60 

Naval  Officer, 50 

Snarleyow, 60 

Newton  Forster, 50 

King's  Own, 60 

Japhet, 60 

Pirate  and  Three  Cutters, 60 

Peter  Simple, 60 

Percival  Keene, 60 

Poor  Jack, 50 

Sea  King, 60 


GEORGE  LIPPARD'S  GREAT  BOOKS. 


The  Quaker  City, ]   50 

Paul  Ardenheim, 1  50 

Blanche  of  Brandywine, 1  60 

Washington  and  his  Generals; 
or,  Legends  of  the  American 

Revolution, 1  50 

Mysieries  of  Florence 1  00 

Above  in  cloth  at  $2.00  each. 


The  Empire  City, 75 

Memoirs  of  a  Preacher, 75 

The  Nazarene, 75 

Washington  and  his  Men, 75 

Legends  of  Mexico, 50 

The  Entranced, 25 

The  Robbers, 25 

The  Bank  Director's  Son, 25 


MILITARY  NOVELS.    BY  BEST  AUTHORS. 

With  Illuminated  Military  Covers,  in  five  Colors. 


Charles  O'Malley, 75 

Jack  Hinton,  the  Guardsman,  75 

The  Knight  of  Gwynue, 75 

Harry  Lorrequor. 75 

Tom  Burkoof  Ours, 75 

Arthur  O'Leary, 75 

Con  Creean, 75 

Kate   O'Donoghue. 75 

Horace  Templeton, 75 

Davenport  Dunn, 75 

Jack  Adams'  Adventures, 75 

Valentine  Vox 75 

Twin  Lieutenant.-, 75 

fif,.>rios  of  Waterloo 75 

The  Soldier's  Wife, 75 

Guerilla  Chief, 75 


The  Three  Guardsmen, 

Twenty  Years  After, 

Brngelonne,  Son  of  Athos, 

Forty-five  Guardsmen, 

Tom  Bowling'n  Adventure?,... 

Life  of  Robert  Bruce, 

The  Gipsy  Chief, 

Massacre  of  Glencoe, 

Life  of  Guy  Fawkes, 

Child  of  Waterloo, 

Adventure?  of  Ben  Brace, 

Life  of  Jack  Ariel 

Wallace,  the  Hero  of  Scotland, 

Following  the  Drum,. 

The  Conscript,  a  Tale  of  War. 
By  Alexander  Dumas, 


75 
75 

75 
75 
75 
7$ 
75 
75 
T5 
75 
75 
75 

i  no 

50 
1  50 


Books  sent,  postage  paid,  on  receipt  of  the   Retail  Price,  by 
T.  B.  Paterson  &  Brothers,   Philadelphia,  Pa. 


T.  B.  PETERSON  &  BROTHERS'  PUBLICATIONS.  13 


GUSTAVE  AIMARD'S  WORKS. 


The  White  Scalper, 50 

The  Freebooters, ,.,«....  50 

The  Prairie  Flower, 75 

The  Indian  Scout, 75 


Trapper's  Daughter, 75 

The  Tiger  Slayer, 75 

The  Gold  Seekers, 75 

The  Rebel  Chief,.. 75 


The  Smuggler  Chief,. 

The  Border  Rifles, 

Pirates  of  the  Prairies. 


German  without  a  Master.......      40 

Italian  without  a  Master, 40 


The  Trail  Hunter, 75 

The  Indian  Chief, 75 

The  Red  Track, , 75 

LANGUAGES  WITHOUT  A  MASTER. 

French  without  a  Master, 40 

Spanish  without  a  Master, 40 

Latin  without  a  Master, 40 

The  above  fireworks  on  the  French,  German,  Spanish,  Latin,  and  Italian 
Languages,  whereby  any  one  or  all  of  these  Languages  can  be  learned  by 
any  one  without  a  Teacher,  with  the  aid  of  this  book,  by  A.  II.  Monteith, 
Esq.,  is  also  published  in  finer  style,  in  one  volume,  bound,  price,  $1.75. 

HARRY  COCKTON'S  WORKS. 

Sylvester  Sound, 75    The  Sisters, 75 


Valentine  Vox,  in  paper, 75 

do.        finer  edition,  cloth,  2  00 


The  Steward, 75 

Percy  Effingham,. 76 

WAR  NOVELS.    BY  HENRY  MORFORD. 

houlder-Straps, 1  50  I  The  Days  of  Shoddy.    A  Ilis- 

he  Coward, 1  501      tory  of  the  late  War, 1  60 

Above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or  each  one  in  cloth,  for  $1.75  each. 


LIVES  OF 

Life  of  John  A.  Murrel, 

Life  of  Joseph  T.  Hare, 

Life  of  Col.  Monroe  Edwards,. 

Life  of  Jack  Sheppard, 

Life  of  Jack  Rann, 

Life  of  Dick  Turpin, 

Life  of  Helen  Jewett, 

Desperadoes  of  the  New  World, 

Mysteries  of  New  Orleans, 

The  Robber's  Wife, 

Obi ;  or,  Three  Fingered  Jack, 

Kit  Clayton, 

.Life  of  Tom  Waters, 

Nat  Blake, 

Bill  Horton, 

Galloping  Gas, 

Life  &  Trial  of  Antoine  Probst, 

Ned  Hastings...... 

Eveleen  Wilson, 

Diary  of  a  Pawnbroker, 

Silver  and  Pewter, 

Sweeney  Todd, 

Life  of  Grace  O'Malley, 


HIGHWAYMEN. 


Life  of  Davy  Crockett, 50 

Life  of  Sybil  Grey, 50 

Life  of  Jonathan  Wild, 25 

Life  of  Henry  Thomas, 25 

Life  of  Arthur  Spring, 25 

Life  of  Jack  Ketch, 25 

Life  of  Ninon  De  L'Enclo*, 25 

Lives  of  the  Felons, 25 

Life  of  Mrs.Whipple,.. 25 

Life  of  Biddy  Woodhull, 25 

Life  of  Mother  Brownrigg, 25 

Dick  Parker,  the  Pirate.........  25 

Life  of  Mary  Bateman, 25 

Life  of  Captain  Blood 25 

Capt.  Blood  and  the  Beagles,..  25 
Sixteen-Stringed  Jack's  Fight 

for  Life, 25 

Highwayman's  Avenger, 25 

Life  of  Raoul  De  Surville, 25 

Life  of  Rody  the  Rover 25 

Life  of  Galloping  Dick, 25 

Life  of  Guy  Fawkes, 75 

Life  and  Adventures  ofVidocq,  1  50 


MILITARY  AND  ARMY  BOOKS. 

Ellsworth's  Zouave  Drill, 25    U.  S.  Light  Infantry  Drill, 25 

25 


U.  S.  Government  Infantry 
Ri'fle  Tactics,;.... 25 


The  Soldier's  Companion, 

The  Soldier's  Guide,.. 25 


Books  »ent,  postage  paid,  on  Receipt  of  the  Retail  Price,  by 
T.  B.  Peterson  &  Brothers,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


14  T.  B.  PETERSON  &  BROTHERS'  PUBLICATIONS. 


WORKS  AT  75  CENTS.    BY  BEST  AUTHORS. 

Hans  Breitman's   Party,     With   other  Ballads.     New  and  Enlarged 

Edition,  printed  on  Tinted  paper.     By  Charles  G.  Leland, 75 

Webster  and  Hayne's  Speeches  in  Reply  to  Colonel  Foote, 75 

The  Brigand;  or,  the  Demon  of  the  North.     By  Victor  Hugo, 75 

Boanoke;  or,  Where  is  Utopia?     By  C,  H.  Wiley.     Illustrated, 75 


Banditti  of  the  Prairie, 75 

Tom  Racquet, 75 

R«d  Indians  of  Newfoundland,  75 

Salathiel,  by  Croly, 75 

Corinne;  or,  Italy, 75 

Ned  Musgrave 75 

Aristocracy, 75 

Inquisition  in  Spain, 75 

Elsie's  Married  Life, 75 

Ley  ton  Hall.  By  Mark  Lemon,  75 


Flirtation  a  in  America 75 

The  Coquette, 75 

Thackeray's  Irish  Sketch  Book,  75 

Whitehall, 75 

The  Beautiful  Nun, 75 

Mysteries  of  Three  Cities, 75 

Genevra.     By  Miss  Fairfleld,..  75 

New  Hope ;  or,  the  Rescue, 75 

Crock  of  Gold.    By  Tupper,...  75 

Twins  and  Heart.   By  Tupper,  75 


WORKS  AT  50  CENTS.     BY  BEST  AUTHORS. 

The  Woman  in  Red.    A  Companion  to  the  "  Woman  in  Black," 50 

Twelve  Months  of  Matrimony.     By  Emelie  F.  Carlen, 50 


Leah  ;  or  the  Forsaken, 50 

The  Greatest  Plague  of  Life,..  50 

Clifford  and  the  Actress, 50 

Two  Lorers, 50 

Ryan's  Mysteries  of  Marriage,  50 

The  Orphans  and  Caleb  Field,.  50 

Moreton  Hall, 50 

Bell  Brandon, 50 

Sybil  Grey, 50 

Female  Life  in  New  York, 60 

Agnes  Grey, 60 

Diary  of  a  Physician, 50 

The  Emigrant  Squire, 50 

The  Monk,  by  Lewis, 50 

The  Beautiful  French  Girl,...  60 

Father  Clement,  paper, 60 

do.  do.  cloth, 75 

Miser's  Heir,  paper, 50 

do.      do.     cloth, 75 

WORKS  AT  25  CENTS. 

Aunt  Margaret's  Trouble, 25 

The  Woman  in  Grey, 25 

The  Deformed, 25 

Two  Prima  Donnas, 25 

The  Mysterious  Marriage, 25 

Jack  Downing's  Letters, 25 

The  Mysteries  of  a  Convent,...  25 

Rose  Warrington, 25 

The  Iron  Cross, 25 

Charles  Ransford, 25 


The  Admiral's  Daughter, 50 

The  American  Joe  Miller.......  60 

Ella  Stratford, 60 

Josephine,  by  Grace  Aguilar,..  60 

The  Fortune  Hunter, 60 

The  Orphan  Sisters, 50 

Robert  Oaklands ;  or,  the  Out- 
cast Orphan, 50 

Abednego,  the  Money  Lender,.  60 

Jenny  Ambrose, 50 

Father  Tom  and  the  Pope,  in 

cloth  gilt,  75  cents,  or  paper,  60 

The  Romish  Confessional 60 

Victims  of  Amusements, 60 

Violet, 60 

Alieford,  a  Family  History,..  .  50 
General  Scott's  $5  Portrait,...  1  00 

Henry  Clay's  $5  Portrait, 1  00 

Tangarua,  a  Poem, 1  00 

BY  BEST  AUTHORS. 

The  Mysteries  of  Bedlam, 25 

The  Nobleman's  Daughter,...  26 
Madison's   Exposition  of  Odd 

Fellowship, 25 

Ghost  Stories.     Illustrated,....  25 

Ladies'  Science  of  Etiquette,...  25 

The  Abbey  of  Innismoyle, 26 

Gliddon's  Ancient  Egypt, 26 

Philip  in  Search  of  a  Wife, 26 

Rifle  Shots, 26 


THE    SHAKSPEARE  NOVELS. 

The  Secret  Passion, 1  00  I  Shakspeare  and  his  Friends,...  1  00 

The  Youth  of  Shakspeare, 1  00  I 

The  three  above  Books  are  also  published  complete  in  one  large  octavo 
volume,  bound  in  cloth.     Price  Four  Dollars. 


Booki  tent,  pottage  paid,  on  receipt  of  the  Retail  Price,  by 
T.  B.  Peterson  &  Brothers,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


A     000  957  238     9 


